Blanca (TV series)

Blanca is an Italian police procedural drama television series, which was broadcast on Rai 1 from 22 November 2021. It is based on the eponymous book series by Patrizia Rinaldi, first published in 2009. The TV series is set in Genoa and stars Maria Chiara Giannetta as the titular character: a blind intern aspiring to become a consultant profiler at the fictitious San Teodoro police station. Co-stars are Giuseppe Zeno as her mentor Michele, a detective and Enzo Paci as Mauro the Deputy Commissioner. The first season comprises 12 single episodes or six double-length episodes. Each double-length episode details a major story arc where Blanca assists in a crime's resolution. The series also follows Blanca's personal life, how she became blind, and her older sister's murder. The second season, also with 12 single episodes or six double-length episodes, began broadcast on Rai 1, in Italy, from 5 October 2023. For this season Blanca is promoted to police consultant; she deals with a bomber targeting police and the return of Sebastiano (Pierpaolo Spollon) in her life.

Premise
Blanca became blind at twelve, after witnessing a fire in which her older sister Beatrice died. Blanca testified that Beatrice's boyfriend, Sebastiano, had run off just before the fire. 15 years later Blanca is decoding audio files for court cases before returning to Genoa to work as an intern police consultant. Her uncle Alberto disapproves but allows her to stay for six months. Blanca is assisted by Linneo, her guide dog, and by her best friend Stella. While overcoming work-related challenges, she assists Michele with criminal investigations using her heightened non-visual senses. Blanca considers developing a romantic relationship with Michele but shifts her focus to Nanni. However, Nanni is secretly Sebastiano, who is stalking her, eventually imprisons and tortures her in revenge for her incriminating testimony.

Cast

 * Maria Chiara Giannetta as Blanca Ferrando: blind woman (since 12-years-old), intern police consultant, previously court transcriber of sound files (décodage). Beatrice's younger sister, Leone's second daughter, Alberto's niece. Her guide dog is Linneo. Promoted to police consultant, exonerates Sebastiano of any maltreatment.
 * Roberta Volponi as Blanca Ferrando: young girl.
 * Giuseppe Zeno as Michele Liguori: San Teodoro police detective inspector, noble descendent (as Michelangelo Agilulfo dei conti Liguori), Blanca's mentor, Mauro's subordinate.
 * Giovannino Esposito as Michele Liguori: young boy.
 * Enzo Paci as Mauro Bacigalupo: San Teodoro police Deputy Commissioner, bureaucratic, wants straightforward solutions, Michele's superior.
 * Pierpaolo Spollon as Nanni Busalla ( Sebastiano Russo): poses as a restaurant cook and former sailor. Actually Beatrice's ex-boyfriend – imprisoned for her murder. He blames Blanca's testimony for his conviction. Sebastiano supposedly died at sea, however he assumed the real drowned cook Nanni's identity. As Nanni he becomes Blanca's lover but spies on her, then drugs and tortures her. At his new trial Blanca denies any maltreatment by Sebastiano, he is freed.
 * Simone Fumagalli as Sebastiano Russo: Beatrice's teen boyfriend.
 * Antonio Zavatteri as Alberto Repetto: Beatrice and Blanca's uncle, magistrate, previously prosecutor. Revealed to be Beatrice's killer and framed Sebastiano; he is killed by Michele to protect Blanca.
 * Gualtiero Burzi as Nello Carità: San Teodoro police officer, works for Mauro and Michele.
 * Federica Cacciola as Stella Musso: beautician, Blanca's best friend, encourages Blanca to develop personal relationships: first with Michele and then Nanni.
 * Sara Ciocca as Lucia Ottonello: young teen, school student, Margherita Canepa (dead) and Gianni Ottonello's daughter, becomes Blanca's friend. After being abandoned by Gianni, Blanca calls in child protection services, which transfers her to a convent school-orphanage.
 * Ugo Dighero as Leone Ferrando: Blanca and Beatrice's father, supports Blanca while dealing with her blindness.
 * Michela Cescon as Nadia Repetto/Elena: Blanca's long-estranged mother, Alberto's sister. Pretends to be a housekeeper to work for Blanca. She is the police bomber's lover.
 * Isabella Mottinelli as Beatrice "Bea" Ferrando: Blanca's 16-year-old sister, Leone's daughter, died in fire.
 * Stefano Dionisi as Raffaele Randi / "Polibomber": police's main enemy, sets off numerous bombs injuring and killing police.

Season 1 additional cast

 * Fiorenza Pieri as Marinella Fabbri: journalist, Michele's some-time girlfriend, Gabriele's mother.
 * Rocco Gottlieb as Gabriele: Marinella's young teen son.
 * Sandra Ceccarelli as Timperi: high-price lawyer, Michele's long estranged mother.

Season 2 additional cast

 * Chiara Baschetti as Veronica Alberici: lawyer who works at Timperi's firm, Michele's childhood friend.
 * Raffaele Esposito as Paolo Sivori: head of Special Operations Division (DIGOS), leads Crisis Unit set up to solve "Polibomber" case.
 * Carlo Sciaccaluga as Ivan Scarabotti: young police officer, target of Nello's jokes.

Production
Initially the titular role of Blanca was offered to Giulia Michelini, but she was replaced by Maria Chiara Giannetta (also in Don Matteo and Buongiorno, mamma!). Filming primarily took place in the northern Italian region of Liguria, mostly in its capital city of Genoa. Other locations used were Monte Argentario (Tuscany) and Formello (Lazio).