Portobello, the first Italian original of HBO Max, comes from none other than legendary auteur Marco Bellocchio. The six-part series, which premieres on Feb. 20, explores the true story of beloved TV host Enzo Tortora, who was wrongfully accused by the mob. Now, HBO Max has released a trailer designed to give audiences a proper glimpse of the series after a previously launched teaser.
Taking audiences back to 1980s Italy, it tells the story of one of the most infamous miscarriages of justice in the country’s history. Bellocchio (The Traitor, Kidnapped) directed and co-wrote the drama named after a TV program that Tortora hosted and that reached 28 million viewers in prime time. Contestants of Portobello had to try to make a parrot speak.
“Tortora is the king of 1980s television, and the president of Italy, Alessandro Pertini, even appoints Tortora Commander of the Republic,” reads a synopsis for the HBO Max series. “During this time, the Irpinia earthquake delivers the final blow to the already fragile balance of the New Organized Camorra criminal organization [that originated in the region of Campania and is one of the oldest and largest criminal organizations in Italy, dating to the 18th century]. Giovanni Pandico, a trusted friend of crime boss Raffaele Cutolo and a regular viewer of Portobello, decides to repent. Interrogated by the judges, he names an unexpected person: Enzo Tortora.”
As a result, the “king” of 1980s Italian TV became “the protagonist of a senseless judicial ordeal,” HBO Max notes.
In the trailer for Portobello, touting the “sensational true story,” we see the host in his element, along with people behind bars who will cause him problems and a brief glimpse of the ensuing media circus.
The production by Our Films, a company of the Mediawan group, and Kavac Film, in co-production with ARTE France and in collaboration with Rai Fiction and Fremantle’s The Apartment Pictures, stars Fabrizio Gifuni as Tortora. The series is written by Bellocchio, Stefano Bises, Giordana Mari, and Peppe Fiore, with cinematography by Francesco Di Giacomo.
Portobello will debut on HBO Max, where it will be available globally, including in upcoming launch markets Italy and the U.K., but excluding France and Germany. The first two episodes of the series world premiered at the Venice Film Festival before also screening at the BFI London Film Festival.
“There is this innocent man, but he’s not a saint,” Bellocchio told THR in an interview last year. “This interested me. He’s not a saint, he’s not a hero.”
Watch the trailer for HBO Max’s Portobello below.
