Rai 1 airs new Giovannino Guareschi biopic

On Sunday, September 20, 2026, Rai 1 aired the new television film ‘Giovannino Guareschi – Non muoio nemmeno se mi ammazzano’. Directed by Andrea Porporati, the production explores the life of the Italian author following his return from a Polish prisoner-of-war camp in 1945. The narrative depicts the origins of his famous characters, Don Camillo and Peppone, and his efforts to establish the satirical weekly Candido.

The film stars Giuseppe Zeno as Guareschi, alongside Benedetta Cimatti and Andrea Roncato. The production was supported by the Emilia-Romagna region and utilized the autobiographical book ‘Chi sogna nuovi gerani?’ as inspiration, with historical consultation from the author's son, Alberto Guareschi.

In terms of television viewership, the film faced competition from the Turkish series ‘Racconto di una notte’ on Canale 5. Other programming on the night included volleyball coverage on Rai 2 and the social affairs program ‘PresaDiretta’ on Rai 3.