HBO series on Melania Rea to premiere at Rome Film Festival

The HBO Original series ‘Melania Rea’ is set to premiere at the Rome Film Festival within the Freestyle | Serie section. The four-episode crime drama, directed by Stefano Mordini, reconstructs the high-profile 2011 case of Melania Rea, whose body was discovered in the woods of Ripe di Civitella in the Abruzzo National Park.

Starring Maria Esposito as Melania Rea and Daniele Rienzo as her husband, Salvatore Parolisi, the narrative alternates between past and present. It follows the events from the initial report of her disappearance during a trip to Pianoro di Colle San Marco to the subsequent judicial investigations and Parolisi’s eventual conviction for murder.

The production aims to move beyond mere judicial chronicle to explore the psychological dynamics of domestic abuse, control, and gender-based violence. The creators collaborated with the Rea family, legal experts, and criminologists to ensure a sensitive portrayal. The series will be available exclusively on HBO Max.