Scripted

Picomedia and Rai Fiction introduce a crime series rooted in an unexplored Italian setting. Uno sbirro in Appennino, directed by Renato De Maria and written by Fabio Bonifacci, premieres on Rai 1 from April 9 for four prime-time slots, with the first two episodes available on RaiPlay from April 7.

The series positions the Apennines not merely as a backdrop but as a defining narrative element. As De Maria notes, the term “Appennino” completes the title and shapes the tone and identity of the project. Supported by the Emilia-Romagna Region, the story unfolds in Muntagò, a fictional village that embodies the cultural, social, and demographic dynamics of the broader Apennine area—its natural beauty, traditions, and ongoing depopulation.

At the center of the story is Commissioner Vasco Benassi, played by Claudio Bisio (Zelig) a seasoned investigator forced to return to his hometown after a professional misstep. What initially appears as a punitive reassignment becomes an opportunity for personal reckoning, as Benassi reconnects with his roots and unresolved relationships. The narrative interweaves procedural storytelling with character-driven drama. Key figures include his cousin Gaetana (Elisa D’Eusanio), a police inspector offering familial support; her husband Bruno (Ivan Zerbinati), a former romantic rival; and Fosco (Michele Savoia), a young officer who follows Benassi out of loyalty and respect.

A central emotional axis is represented by Nicole Poli (Valentina Lodovini), Benassi’s youthful, unfulfilled love, now the first female mayor of Bologna. Their shared solitude and past experiences create a nuanced dynamic that adds depth to the series’ relational framework.
Parallel to the adult storyline, a younger generation introduces additional narrative layers. Macchio (Jacopo Dei) and Magico (Lorenzo Minutillo), sons of Gaetana and Nicole respectively, are drawn into a love triangle involving Amaranta (Chiara Celotto), a determined Neapolitan police officer assigned to Muntagò.

Amaranta’s tenacity mirrors Benassi’s own investigative drive, leading to a complex mentor-protégé relationship. This bond evolves into what can be described as a form of “emotional parenthood,” blurring professional and personal boundaries while reinforcing the series’ thematic focus on identity and belonging.