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Oct 30, 2024

Elsa Morante’s 'La Storia’ Series Sells To North America & Israel

EXCLUSIVE: Italian drama ‘La Storia’ has been picked up for the U.S. and Israel. The series, adapted from the iconic Elsa Morante bestseller, is set in Rome during and soon after World War II. It

EXCLUSIVE: Italian drama ‘La Storia’ has been picked up for the U.S. and Israel. The series, adapted from the iconic Elsa Morante bestseller, is set in Rome during and soon after World War II. It stars Jasmine Trinca (The Gunman) in the lead role.

MHz Choice, the SVOD service that majors in bringing prestige international television to North American viewers, has acquired it for the U.S. and Canada. Elsewhere, YES and HOT have picked it up for Israel. Beta Film is handling distribution and cut the deals. It has already sold it to NRK in Norway, YLE in Finland, SVT in Sweden, DR in Denmark and RUV in Iceland.

The series is set during World War II and its immediate aftermath. It turns on the story of a Jewish woman, Ida Ramundo, a widowed mother living in Rome, and her two sons. The book was first published in 1974, quickly generating a huge reaction and achieving bestseller status.

The drama had its world premiere at the Rome International Film Festival. Its cast also includes Asia Argento (Land of the Dead), Elio Germano (Rose Island) and Valerio Mastandrea (Perfect Strangers).

On TV, it bowed on RAI’s main channel to critical and viewer acclaim. The opening episode garnered a whopping 24% share for the Italian pubcaster.

Francesca Archibugi (Romanzo famigliare) directed and co-wrote the screenplay with Francesco Piccolo, Giulia Calenda and Ilaria Macchia. It is produced by Picomedia and Thalie Images in collaboration with Rai Fiction and in co-production with Beta.

Beta is at MIPCOM with Rise of the Raven, one of the biggest shows for the 2024 market and one of Deadline’s esteemed Hot Ones selection.

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