The cinematic adaptation of Nicola Lagioia’s non-fiction investigation La città dei vivi arrives in Italian cinemas on October 1, 2026, bringing the brutal 2016 murder of 23-year-old Luca Varani back into public focus.
The Cinematic Treatment of an Unfathomable Crime
Il Foglio notes that while readers of Lagioia’s 2020 Einaudi book anticipated intensely graphic scenes, the film deliberately leaves the physical torture and murder out of frame. Instead, Gabbriellini’s feature focuses on Varani’s working-class reality as the son of an itinerant carnival worker, featuring scenes of the young man mounting attractions, managing ticket offices, and playing cards with his parents.
Contrasting Creative Visions on Screen
The cinematic project underwent notable behind-the-scenes friction before reaching theaters. Screenwriters Damiano and Fabio D’Innocenzo ultimately withdrew their signatures from the project due to artistic differences with director Edoardo Gabbriellini, according to Il Foglio. In contrast, author Nicola Lagioia expressed strong appreciation for the final adaptation, which stars Emanuele Maria Di Stefano as Luca Varani, Gaia Merlonghi, Simona Senzacqua, Roberta Mattei, and Valerio Mastandrea as the victim’s father, Valerio Varani.
Di Stefano Relies on Script for Character Preparation
Actor Emanuele Maria Di Stefano stated in an interview with Gay.it that his preparation relied entirely on the script and director’s guidance rather than reading Lagioia’s book. Addressing a specific piece of dialogue where the victim’s girlfriend refers to the killers using a derogatory slur, Di Stefano confirmed to Gay.it that the line originated directly from the D’Innocenzo brothers’ initial screenplay.
Questions Surrounding the 2016 Roman Murder Case
- What happened to the perpetrators of the crime?
- Marco Prato died by suicide in Velletri prison in June 2017 before his first-degree trial concluded, while Manuel Foffo chose an expedited trial and received a final 30-year prison sentence in 2019, as detailed by Esquire and Sky TG24.
- Where was the film presented before its theatrical release?
- Sky TG24 reports that La città dei vivi premiered at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival in the Orizzonti section on October 1, 2026.
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