The Italian television series “The Good Mothers” is in competition in the “Berlinale Series” section at the Berlin International Film Festival, scheduled from 16 to 26 February next. The leitmotif of the filmed work is the story of a group of women born into 'Ndrangheta families or who entered the clans as wives of bosses. Women who then had the courage to free themselves from the criminal world even at the cost of losing their lives. True stories told by British journalist Alex Perry in his bestseller The Good Mothers, awarded by the Foreign Press Association. The new original Italian Disney+ series in competition at the Berlin film festival was taken from the volume.
The Good Mothers
The series is nominated for theBerlinale Series Award”, an award established this year and the first dedicated to seriality in the history of the Festival. The Good Mothers, which after Berlin will arrive on Disney +, is interpreted by Gaia Girace (My brilliant friend) in the role of Denise Cosco, Valentina Bellè (Catch-22, I Medici) in the role of Giuseppina Pesce. Barbara Chichiarelli (Suburra – The series, Favolacce) is Anna Colace, Francesco Colella (Trust ZeroZeroZero) has the role of Carlo Cosco.
And, again, Simona Distefano (The Traitor) is Concetta Cacciola, Andrea Dodero (Do not hate) gives the face to Carmine. The cast ends with Micaela Ramazzotti, winner of a David di Donatello and 4 Silver Ribbons, in the role of Lea Garofalo. Lea is the witness of justice who testified against her husband, boss of 'Ndrangheta. Composed of six episodes, the series tells the story of a magistrate, Anna Colace, who declares war on the 'Ndrangheta by relying on her women, the wives and mothers of the bosses. Figures that have always been marginalized and oppressed, subjected to violence by an extremely patriarchal and criminal system.
Anna's investigation begins with the chilling disappearance of Leah Garofalo who had testified against her husband Carlo Cosco to escape his grip and start a new life with her daughter Denise (Gaia Girace). As Anna delves into the murky world of the 'Ndrangheta, she discovers the terrible stories of Giuseppina Pesce and Concetta Cacciola. Two very different women but linked by a dramatic past, by a life lived in an oppressive and suffocating context. Two figures moved by the desire to guarantee themselves and their children a better future, as Lea had tried to do. These women will therefore have to fight against their own families for the right to survive and to build a free life for themselves and their children.
Armored set
Filming, with the support of Calabria Film Commission, they took place on an armored set. After Berlin we will be able to see the series on Disney + and recognize in the scenes some of the most representative places of the metropolitan city of Reggio Calabria. Based on the book by journalist Alex Perry and adapted for the screen by Stephen Butchard (Bagdad Central, The Last Kingdom), the project is directed by Bafta and Emmy nominated Julian Jarrold (The Crown, Becoming Jane) and award-winning Elisa Amoruso (Sirley, Chiara Ferragni: Unposted). The Good Mothers is produced by Juliette Howell and Tessa Ross for House Productions (Brexit: The Uncivil War). And by Mario Gianani and Lorenzo Gangarossa for Wildside (My brilliant friend, Anna), a company of the Fremantle group.
