Zustissia, Francesco Piras's debut film recounts Beniamino Zuncheddu's 33 years of wrongful imprisonment
Francesco Piras makes his feature debut with Zustissia, which is based on the book Io sono innocente by Mauro Trogu and Beniamino Zuncheddu. The film portrays a significant miscarriage of justice in Italy. On January 8, 1991, three shepherds were murdered in Sinnai, Sardinia; the only survivor, Luigi Pinna, implicated Zuncheddu, who was sentenced to nearly 33 years behind bars. In 2016, Trogu began defending Zuncheddu, culminating in his release on November 25, 2023, and subsequent acquittal on January 26, 2024. The film stars Fabrizio Ferracane as Zuncheddu and Michele Riondino as Trogu. It features a serious investigative tone, concluding with a poignant close-up of Zuncheddu, who reflects on his lost time. The article is authored by Roberta Vanali, with images captured by Dietrich Steinmetz.
Key facts
- Zustissia is the directorial debut of Francesco Piras, adapted from the book Io sono innocente by Mauro Trogu and Beniamino Zuncheddu
- Three shepherds were killed in an ambush at a sheepfold in the mountains of Sinnai, southern Sardinia, on 8 January 1991
- Luigi Pinna, the sole survivor, identified Beniamino Zuncheddu, a servant shepherd from Burcei, leading to conviction within little more than a year across three levels of judgment
- Zuncheddu spent almost 33 years in prison while proclaiming his innocence
- Lawyer Mauro Trogu took on the defense without charge in 2016 and worked through the case files for new evidence
- Zuncheddu was released on 25 November 2023 and acquitted on 26 January 2024
- Fabrizio Ferracane plays Zuncheddu and Michele Riondino plays Trogu; Geppi Cucciari appears as Irene Testa and Valentino Mannias as investigator Franco Sau
- The film ends with a close-up of the real Beniamino Zuncheddu and avoids redemptive rhetoric
Entities
Artists
- Francesco Piras
- Beniamino Zuncheddu
- Mauro Trogu
- Fabrizio Ferracane
- Michele Riondino
- Geppi Cucciari
- Valentino Mannias
- Luigi Pinna
- Franco Sau
- Irene Testa
- Roberta Vanali
- Dietrich Steinmetz
Institutions
- Artribune
- Partito Radicale
- Regione Sardegna
Locations
- Sinnai
- Italy
- Sardinia
- Burcei