Giovannino Guareschi biographical film to air on Rai 1

The biographical film “Giovannino Guareschi – Non muoio neanche se mi ammazzano” is scheduled to air on Rai 1 on Sunday, September 20, 2026. Directed by Andrea Porporati and starring Giuseppe Zeno, the production explores the life of the renowned Italian writer, journalist, and creator of the “Don Camillo and Peppone” series.

The film follows Guareschi’s journey from his return to the Emilia-Romagna region in 1945 after being deported to German and Polish prisoner camps for refusing to fight for the Nazi-Fascist regime. It depicts his commitment to his ideals, his opposition to both communism and American consumerism, and his creation of the “Mondo Piccolo” (Little World) based on the Bassa Padana landscape.

Key narrative elements include his family life with his wife Ennia and his legal battles, such as his imprisonment in Parma for defamation against Alcide De Gasperi. The production was filmed in various locations across Emilia-Romagna, including Brescello, to maintain authenticity to the author’s original settings.