The series begins in 1915, with Benito Mussolini, a charismatic and ambitious young journalist, returning to Italy after being wounded in World War I. He's disillusioned with the Italian Socialist Party, which he believes has failed to capitalize on the momentum of the war.
The show has won recognition as "Series of the Year" at the and has been honored with the prestigious Peabody Award . The Peabody jury stated that the show wins for "its mercurial storytelling style and its painstakingly detailed documentation of how absolute power corrupts absolutely".
The production boasts a world-class team, including cinematographer Seamus McGarvey ( Atonement ), editor Valerio Bonelli, and costume designer Massimo Cantini Parrini. Perhaps one of the most inspired choices was bringing on composer Tom Rowlands of The Chemical Brothers. Rowlands’ electronic score provides a thumping, modern, and relentlessly propulsive energy that defies typical period-piece conventions, adding to the show's unsettling and kinetic feel.
With Season 01 streaming globally on platforms like MUBI and Prime Video in select regions, viewers are treated to an alarming, front-row seat to the unraveling of Italian democracy. 🎬 The Vision and The Craft mussolini: son of the century season 01
The season finale culminates in the fractured, post-war chaos of Milan. Amidst the "Mutilated Victory" and economic collapse, Mussolini gathers a ragtag group of poets, veterans, and thugs in Piazza San Sepolcro. They aren't just a political party; they are the Fasci Italiani di Combattimento
, where his words don't just report the news—they set the Mediterranean on fire. The Great Pivot
Key events covered:
The birth of the Fasci Italiani di Combattimento .
Based on Antonio Scurati’s Strega Prize-winning novel, this eight-part series is a bold, stylistic departure from traditional period dramas, blending the aesthetics of 90s rave culture with the raw energy of a gangster epic. Series Overview and Production Joe Wright ( Darkest Hour , Atonement ). Lead Star: Luca Marinelli as Benito Mussolini.
Oscar-nominated director Joe Wright ( Atonement, Darkest Hour ) directs the entire season. Rather than aiming for a dusty "Masterpiece Theatre" tone, Wright opts for a stylistically audacious approach. The show blends direct-to-camera addresses, anachronistic needle drops, experimental cinematography, and even puppetry. This creates what one critic called "an authoritarian fever dream" that propels the audience through the era’s turmoil. The series begins in 1915, with Benito Mussolini,
Luca Marinelli delivers what critics have called a "monstrous" and "stupendous" performance as Benito Mussolini. Physically transforming for the role, Marinelli frequently breaks the fourth wall , addressing the audience directly to explain his cynical political maneuvers.
Joe Wright injects his signature kinetic visual energy and theatricality into the project, moving far away from the rigid, dry tropes of typical historical biographics.
: The show utilizes a "pop" portrait approach with dark comedy elements and frequent fourth-wall breaks , where Mussolini addresses the audience directly. Season 01 Episode Guide Season 1 follows historical events from the founding of the Fasci Italiani di Combattimento in 1919 to the establishment of authoritarian rule in 1925. The Peabody jury stated that the show wins