The Lions of Sicily: the previews (plot and cast) first episode, September 10

The Lions of Sicily: the previews (plot and cast) of the first episode, September 10

Tonight, September 10, 2024, at 9:20 pm, the first episode of I Leoni di Sicilia will air, the successful series set in 19th-century Sicily and directed by Paolo Genovese, which after the excellent reception from audiences and critics on Disney+ arrives on free-to-air Rai 1 in prime time. The series is composed of four episodes in total, and two episodes are broadcast for each. But what are the previews, the plot and the cast? Here is all the information on tonight’s episode.

Previews

In tonight’s first episode, the series opens in Tonnara dell’Arenella, Sicily, 1830. Baron Mercurio Nasca di Montemaggiore is in a liquidity crisis and asks Mr. Vincenzo Florio for a loan, offering his tonnara as collateral, but the entrepreneur refuses.

Bagnara Calabra, 1802. An earthquake in the middle of the night shakes and destroys the house of the Florio family who, now homeless, decides to leave for Palermo in search of fortune. The brothers Paolo (with his wife Giuseppina and son Vincenzo) and Ignazio open a putia (a shop selling various herbs and spices), not without attracting the ire of the local merchants, who saw their work and customers being “stolen” by the Florios; the two brothers soon made their fortune, making their family one of the richest in Sicily.

Little Vincenzo is educated by his father Paolo, charismatic but at the same time despotic; the man in fact has no qualms about mistreating and raping his wife Giuseppina, even in front of his brother Ignazio, who has always been in love with his sister-in-law. Paolo’s desire for expansion is great, but he soon falls ill with tuberculosis and dies, leaving everything in the hands of his brother. Tonnara dell’Arenella, Sicily, 1830. Baron Mercurio Nasca di Montemaggiore sells his property to Vincenzo Florio.

In tonight’s second episode of I Leoni di Sicilia, Vincenzo grows up under the teachings of his uncle Ignazio, who after the death of his brother Paolo, as per his will, will raise him as if he were his own son. The Florio business continues to flourish, with Vincenzo who, growing up and turning 16, becomes the right-hand man of his uncle Ignazio. The latter becomes increasingly close to his sister-in-law Giuseppina, both of whom have always been in love with each other.

Ignazio, initially reluctant towards his dead brother, decides to start a relationship with his sister-in-law, but all without the knowledge of Vincenzo, who in the meantime undertakes a three-month trip to England with Baron Benjamin Ingham. Upon his return, Vincenzo discovers everything, but Ignazio will feel ill and die due to an illness: from that moment Vincenzo becomes the man of the Florio household, in a Sicily in serious crisis due to the annexation of the Kingdom of Sicily to the Kingdom of Naples.

The Lions of Sicily: the cast

We’ve seen the plot, but who is the cast? The series stars Michele Riondino as Vincenzo Florio, Miriam Leone as Giulia Portalupi, Donatella Finocchiaro as Giuseppina, Vinicio Marchioni as Paolo Florio, Eduardo Scarpetta as Ignazio Florio (Vincenzo’s son), Paolo Briguglia as Ignazio Florio, Ester Pantano as young Giuseppina and Adele Cammarata as Giovanna D’Ondes. Here are all the actors and the characters they play.

Michele Riondino: Vincenzo Florio
Miriam Leone: Giulia Portalupi
Donatella Finocchiaro: Giuseppina Saffiotti (adult)
Vinicio Marchioni: Paul Florio
Paul Briguglia: Ignatius Florio
Ester Pantano: Giuseppina Saffiotti (young)
Claudia Pandolfi: Duchess Spadafora
Eduardo Scarpetta: Ignatius Florio

Streaming and TV

Where to watch I Leoni di Sicilia live on TV and streaming? Appointment on Rai 1 for four weeks starting from September 10, 2024 at 9:30 pm. The series is available on demand or on Disney +.