Andrea Innocenti On Sunday, September 20, 2026, Rai 1 aired a new drama series, "Giovannino Guareschi – I Won't Die Even If They Kill Me." The long title recalls the famous phrase with which the writer coined his indomitable spirit. It is produced by Andrea Porporati, in collaboration with Rai Fiction, and supported by the Emilia-Romagna Region.
The narration focuses on a crucial period in the life of the Emilian author, unraveling the events that fueled the genesis of his most beloved characters, Don Camillo and Peppone.
At the center of the plot is Giuseppe Zeno who plays Guareschi, supported by Benedetta Cimatti as his wife Ennia and Andrea Roncato as his father Primo Augusto.
The screenplay, inspired by the autobiographical book "Who Dreams of New Geraniums?" edited by the heirs Alberto and Carlotta Guareschi, benefits from the exclusive consultancy of their son Alberto, ensuring historical accuracy with actual documented facts.
The return from the camp and the beginning of a new adventure
The film begins in 1945, when Guareschi, after almost two years of imprisonment in Polish concentration camps for his refusal to fight alongside the Nazis, returns on foot to his beloved Emilian lowlands.
Welcomed by his family—his wife Ennia and his children Albertino and Carlotta—his first act was to pick up his pen again and observe the world around him with open eyes. It was during this period that the idea of founding the satirical weekly Candido was born , which would become the showcase for his cultural and political battles. The production filmed in the authentic locations where Guareschi lived, between the Parma countryside and the streets of Bologna, making the series a true tribute to the region that inspired him.
The birth of Don Camillo and Peppone and the success of "Little World"
The story follows the editorial development of "Mondo piccolo," the series of short stories that introduced the public to the iconic characters of the conflict between the priest Don Camillo and the communist mayor Peppone . The series, published beginning in 1948, is distinguished by its cutting irony and its ability to reflect the political tensions of post-war Italy. The fiction depicts the negotiations with publisher Angelo Rizzoli and film producer Peppino Amato, culminating in the film adaptation starring Fernandel and Gino Cervi. This segment highlights how Guareschi's satire transcended print, becoming an integral part of popular culture.
The confrontation with politics and prison in Parma
Alongside its literary success, the series illuminates the political battles that shaped the author's life. In 1954, Guareschi published two letters in Candido attributed to Alcide De Gasperi, later revealed to be false. The defamation led to a conviction for defamation by the Parma court, which forced him to serve 409 days in prison in the San Francesco penitentiary. His unwavering determination, summed up in the phrase "I won't die even if they kill me," led him to refuse all appeals, maintaining his innocence. This episode is narrated with dramatic tones, illustrating the tensions between freedom of the press and political power in the postwar context.
The series, also available for streaming on RaiPlay, remains on-demand for those who want to delve deeper into the life of a man who, despite being a source of controversy, left an indelible mark on Italian literature. Guareschi's story, with its combination of satire, courage, and deep-rooted connection to his homeland, continues to resonate with new generations, demonstrating that freedom of expression can resist any oppression.