Portobello | Official Trailer | HBO — A Trial That Shook Italy, A Man Watched by a Nation

One arrest.

One accusation.

One country holding its breath.

Portobello is an upcoming prestige HBO miniseries from legendary filmmaker Marco Bellocchio, and its Official Trailer signals a gripping, devastating true-crime drama rooted in one of Italy’s most infamous miscarriages of justice.

Streaming from February 20, Portobello revisits the real-life case of television icon Enzo Tortora, a man who went from national hero to public enemy almost overnight — not because of proof, but because of accusation.

What Is Portobello About?

Set in early-1980s Italy, Portobello chronicles the rise and catastrophic fall of Enzo Tortora, the beloved host of the wildly popular TV show Portobello, watched by nearly 28 million viewers in prime time.

At the height of his fame:

• Tortora is a household name

• He’s honored by the President of Italy

• He represents credibility, warmth, and public trust

Then everything collapses.

In 1983, following testimony from a Camorra informant, Tortora is suddenly arrested and accused of being part of the New Organized Camorra — an allegation built on shaky statements, false names, and systemic failure.

What follows is not just a legal battle, but a public execution played out on television.

Official Trailer Breakdown: Fame Turns Into Fear

The Portobello trailer is deliberately restrained — and that’s what makes it powerful.

Key moments teased:

• Tortora’s arrest in a hotel room, filmed with stark realism

• Courtrooms packed with cameras and whispers

• Media frenzy replacing evidence

• A man slowly realizing the system will not save him

The tone is suffocating, emphasizing humiliation, isolation, and the terrifying speed at which public opinion turns.

This isn’t a crime thriller about “who did it.”It’s about what happens when the truth no longer matters.

Fabrizio Gifuni’s Transformative Lead Performance

At the center of the series is Fabrizio Gifuni, delivering what early festival reactions describe as a career-defining performance as Enzo Tortora.

Gifuni captures:

• The charisma of a TV star

• The disbelief of a wrongfully accused man

• The quiet erosion of dignity under constant scrutiny

Rather than melodrama, the performance leans into restraint — making Tortora’s descent feel all the more devastating.

A Powerful Supporting Cast

The ensemble deepens the political and emotional weight of the story, including:

• Lino Musella as Giovanni Pandico

• Barbora Bobuľová as Anna Tortora

• Romana Maggiora Vergano as Francesca Scopelliti

• Gianfranco Gallo as Raffaele Cutolo

Each character represents a different arm of the machine — media, crime, justice, politics — closing in on one man.

Marco Bellocchio’s Signature: Power, Guilt, and the State

Bellocchio is no stranger to stories about institutional violence and moral collapse. With Portobello, he turns his lens toward:

• The justice system under pressure

• Media as prosecutor

• Public opinion as verdict

Written by Bellocchio alongside Stefano Bises, Giordana Mari, and Peppe Fiore, the series avoids sensationalism. Instead, it asks uncomfortable questions about how democracies fail — not loudly, but procedurally.

Festival Pedigree and Global Release

The first two episodes of Portobello premiered out of competition at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival, instantly positioning the series as awards-season prestige television.

Following its festival debut, the series is set for a global release on HBO Max in early 2026, with HBO backing its international rollout.

Why Portobello Feels Urgent Today

Although set in the 1980s, Portobello feels disturbingly contemporary.

It speaks directly to:

• Trial-by-media culture

• False accusations amplified by platforms

• The fragility of public trust

• How quickly reputation becomes evidence

In an era of viral outrage and instant judgment, Tortora’s story lands with renewed force.

Final Verdict: A Prestige Drama That Hits Where It Hurts

The Portobello Official Trailer promises a series that is:

• Politically charged

• Emotionally devastating

• Intellectually uncompromising

This isn’t comfort viewing.

It’s necessary viewing.

A man on trial. A nation watching.

And a truth buried beneath noise, fear, and power.

Portobello premieres February 20 on HBO Max.