Le Libere donne is the new drama by Rai 1 co-produced by Rai Fiction and Endemol Shine Italy, freely treated by Mario Tobino-Mondadori Libri and set between Lucca and Viareggio during the Second World War. The fiction with Lino Guanciale is aired from Tuesday, March 10, composed of 6 episodes divided into three first evenings but immediately available on RaiPlay in boxset.
“I hope that this story will offer ideas of reflection on the condition of the woman of yesterday and today, and can touch the heart of those who are on the side of justice and freedom,” said director Michele Soavi, speaking of the story of Le Libere Donne, a historical-sentimental drama that explores the subtle boundary between passion and madness, facing the contrast between conformism and individuality, telling the story of a doctor in a female psychiatric hospital.
“In this story, dated 1943, there is no equality of rights. Women were not the master of themselves, they did not have the autonomy of their body, the right to life, education, work and freedom of expression. In our story – a free adaptation of the book – one of them will make a breach in the heart of Tobino, who will seek with all his forces to save her” added Soavi.
Le Libere donne, la trama generale
The fiction brings us between Lucca and Viareggio in 1943. Mario Tobino is an unconventional psychiatrist with a passion for poetry, while challenging the repressive rules of Maggiano’s female psychiatric hospital to safeguard the dignity of his patients.
Mario lives inside the asylum by comparing and sometimes colliding with the different approaches of his colleagues. In particular, he finds an ally in Dr. Anselmi, a young doctor who is sketchy and selfless, with whom he will also be able to establish a sincere relationship of friendship and trust.
Mario’s life takes an unexpected turn when Margherita Lenzi arrives in Maggiano, a young woman locked up in the hospital by her husband against her will. Instinct pushes Tobino to doubt Margaret’s madness and wonder if it is not only the victim of a violent man, eager to put his hands on his inheritance. Mario will begin a compelling search for truth, fought between an intense and unexpected feeling for Margherita – which pushes him to confront moral dilemmas and to risk his position – and a love that comes back from the past, that for Paola Levi, become a partisan relay.
Le puntate del 10 marzo
Episode 1: Lucca 1942, Christmas Eve night. Margherita, young wife of lawyer Filippo Lenzi, escapes from home and, in an act of despair and challenge, presents herself naked and wounded on the Cathedral’s feast while the Mass is underway. She was admitted by decision of her husband in the psychiatric hospital in Maggiano, crossed the fate of Dr. Mario Tobino, a physician and a disillusioned poet, who had just returned from the Libyan front. In the meantime, Paola Levi Olivetti, her ancient and great love became a partisan relay and whose life, as a Jew, is threatened. Meanwhile, in Maggiano, Roncoroni entrusts Tobino with the task of understanding whether Margherita is sick or not: Mario understands that behind his stubborn silence lies a history of freedom denied and violence. But when Margherita receives her husband’s visit with the family, the woman has a misleading reaction that seems
confirm his mental infirmity.
Episode 2: Closed in isolation, Margherita attempts suicide but is saved by Tobino. In the meantime, Paola, relay partigiana, puts her life at risk without giving up relaunching her ancient bond with Tobino. In Maggiano, Mario, with his humanizing approach to the disease, pushes to experiment with a creative workshop
for the deceased, while colliding with the skepticism of the colleagues and the initial resistance of the same patients. He eventually manages to involve them, immediately seeing the positive results of his method. In the meantime, he investigates lawyer Lenzi, going to his house to talk to him and his family, and then he also meets the judge called to decide the fate of Margherita, whose life in Maggiano is increasingly difficult.
Il cast
Lino Guanciale è Mario Tobino
Grace Kicaj è Margherita Lenzi
Gaia Messerklinger è Paola Levi
Fabrizio Biggio è il dottor Guido Anselmi
Paolo Briguglia è Filippo Lenzi
Massimo Nicolini è il dottor Gianmassimo Parisi
Pia Lanciotti è Galli
L’articolo Women’s Freedoms, Passion and Madness during World War II: the plot of March 10 comes from Dituttounpop.it.
