Endemol Shine Italy and Rai Fiction team up for a new drama

Banijay confirmed “La Sposa” (The Bride), a new six-part series from Endemol Shine Italy, co-produced with Rai Fiction. Set in the late 1960s, the series stars Serena Rossi and will air on Rai1 in 2022.
 
“The Bride” is a touching tale of redemption and liberation, centering around Maria, a young woman who marries Italo by proxy, a widespread practice in Italy, in the late 1960’s, where young women from the South married landowners in the North. Maria adjusts to a controversial rural life as a stepmother with the disdain of a husband who is still traumatized by his first wife’s disappearance. Despite the adversity, her unwavering resilience and positivity see bonds begin to form, until the appearance of her ex-boyfriend threatens to change everything. 
 
These personal stories are set amidst significant social change such as a rise in worker’s demands for rights and Italy’s industrialization throughout the 1960s. Although set in the past, the series speaks to the present and addresses very topical issues, including women’s rights, their emancipation and gender equality.
 
“It is fantastic to work with Rai Fiction on a project which shines a light on life in the 1960s, a time of dramatic change here in Italy. Shot across Rome, Apulia and Piedmont, this high-quality drama, executive produced by Francesco Pincelli and directed by Giacomo Campiotti, has created characters which perfectly capture the complexity of the era,”  said Leonardo Pasquinelli, CEO of Endemol Shine Italy. 
 
Maria Pia Ammirati, Head of Drama at Rai, added: “‘The Bride’ is a brand-new period drama which follows a woman through emancipation and integration while highlighting the struggle women had in changing attitudes. After the successes of ‘L’Allieva,’ ‘Mentre ero via’ and ‘Un’altra vita,’ Rai Fiction is glad to work again with Endemol Shine Italy for a new female-led TV series that explores an important stage of our history”.

Lastly, Benedetta Galbiati, Head of Scripted at Endemol Shine Italy, declared: “After having several huge successes with Rai Fiction, we are very proud to co-produce this new series together. ‘The Bride’ is a story about an extremely modern woman, in which many will recognize themselves, a courageous and strong female figure, who fights for her rights and never gives up”.