SYNOPSIS
The miniseries goes through the main phases of Don Bosco‘s life, from his childhood spent in Piemonte in the 19th century, to the moment he takes his vows, from his choice to be next to the poorest youngsters, to all the ups and downs he has to experience in order to found the Salesians, up to the hard and axhausting work he makes together with his boys in Valdocco, and in other oratories.
“What has really fascinated me since the very beginning, and what I have tried to catch and convey throughout the entire project, has been Don Bosco’s great humanity. He had a very reach, complex personality, characterised also by contradictory aspects: strong and sweet, naive and sharp, impulsive and patient, proud and humble. Different expressions of a unique theme: His love for youg people, his sons…”
– Lodovico Gasparini
Year: 2004
Format: Miniseries 2×100′ and TV movie 1×114′
Genre: Drama
Language: Italian
Co-production: Rai Fiction, Lux Vide Spa, LuxVide GmbH, I Salesiani di Don Bosco, D&B Production in association with Blue Star Movies
Average viewers: 7.575.500
Average share: 28,39%
Cast
| Don Bosco | Flavio Insinna |
| Margherita Bosco | Lina Sastri |
| Vicario Clementi | Charles Dance |
| Giovanni Cagliero Ry | Michael Finerty |
| Michele Rua | Daniel Tschirley |
| Carlo Buzzetti | Julian Patrick Brophy |
| Giuseppe Buzzetti | Jonathan Ross Latham |
| Don Bosco bambino | Brock Everitt Elwick |
| Domenico Savio | Lewis Crutch |
| Don Cafasso | James Greene |
| Don Calosso | Sam Beazley |
| Bruno | Fabrizio Bucci |
| Enrico | Andrea Bosca |
| Don Fassati | Paolo Calabresi |
| Caporeparto | Roberto Ciufoli |
| Fornaio | Dario D’Ambrosi |
| Tipografo | Michele Melega |
| Pope Pio IX | Arnaldo Ninchi |
| Marchesa di Barolo | Alessandra Martines |
Crew
| Produced by | Luca Bernabei |
| Director | Lodovico Gasparini |
| Subject | Graziano Diana |
| Screenplay | Graziano Diana, Francesca Panzarella, Carlo Mazzotta, Lodovico Gasparini, Saverio D’Ercole, Lea Tafuri |
| Story editors | Saverio D’Ercole, Lea Tafuri |
| Editor | Alessandro Lucidi |
| Music | Marco Frisina |
| Costumes Designer | Christine Rawlins |
| Production Designer | Lino Germano |
| Director of Photography | Giovanni Galasso |
| Casting Italy | Fabiola Banzi |
| Casting UK | Julia Duff |
| Executive Producer | Enzo Tacchia |