A fourth season «which focuses much more on the relational and family element, above all thanks to the inclusion of Arianna (Giovanna Rosace), a character who puts Lamanna in front of responsibilities that he has always avoided».
This is the point – explains Monica Vullo, co-director with Riccardo Mosca – from which Makari starts again, the series set in sunny and paradisiacal Sicily born from the novels of Gaetano Savatteri, returning for four prime time shows from 19 October.
Gioè, in the role of the impulsive, brilliant and eternally immature journalist turned successful mystery writer, Saverio Lamanna, we find him in the series, produced by Palomar (a Mediawan Company) in collaboration with Rai Fiction, leading a cast that includes many confirmations and some new entries: Domenico Centamore, Ester Pantano, Antonella Attili, Filippo Luna, Serena Iansiti, Giovanna Rosace, Tuccio Musumeci, Eurydice El-Etr.
«This year the writers had fun putting a lot of spice into the feelings of the characters and they put me to the test – explains Gioè -. On the one hand there is the painful separation (temporary, for an internship, ed.) from Suleima (Pantano) who follows her professional aspirations far from Makari. There will also be the sudden return of the character of Michela (Iansiti), who will once again put this love story in crisis but above all Saverio will be invested with a sort of paternity”, through the meeting/clash with the character of the angry, ironic, closed teenager and heavy metal fan Arianna (Rosace).
A turning point, which puts him face to face with the most complicated aspect of being a parent: dealing with a teenager. He is totally unprepared and will have more or less funny and even engaging clashes with her, which make him understand the difference between being paternalistic and being a father, giving his own example without invading the spaces of a girl who is discovering her place in the world.” The yellow element remains present and continues to run parallel, «and often reflects what the characters are facing on an emotional level», adds Vullo.
For Gioè, in Makari’s detective stories “there are never gratuitous things, every criminal act always has a human aspect”. A different approach from the one that often prevails in news and fiction stories: «Crimes are passionate topics – observes Gioè -. Personally I believe that engaging in this type of morbidity on the part of fiction, news programs and programs is not healthy; there is also the will to address these issues. These are facts that involve real lives and in these representations they are often dehumanized.” The actor is not afraid that the success of the series will tie him too much to the character: «Anyone who as an actor faces problems like this should perhaps find another job. Lamanna is a character that I believe is universal, she gives me the opportunity to explore many facets of a human being. In some ways it reflects me as an individual. I would wish it upon anyone to play a role that lasts over time.”
Ester Pantano is also “delighted to have had a character who has grown over time. Suleima has attracted likes and dislikes, I realized that having a strong female character in a Rai drama, who has her say, and puts her cards back into play knowing what she wants, is probably still something subversive for some. It has made somewhat dormant chords resonate. I am happy that it has shaken something, so much so that those who often write to me are interface with me as if I were the character.”
Meanwhile, Savatteri assures that the novels about Lamanna and his close friend and adventure companion Peppe Piccionello (played in the series by Centamore) will continue «because it is a fun and loved story. I move forward aware that we live in a world of Pirandello mirrors: I write about them thinking of Claudio and Domenico and so I think my readers do too”