The Invisible: Rai’s New Series Chronicles the Capture and Death of Mafia Boss Matteo Messina Denaro
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A gripping new Italian series, “The Invisible,” premiering February 3 and 4 on Rai Uno, dramatizes the decades-long pursuit and eventual capture of Matteo Messina Denaro, one of the most notorious and elusive bosses in the history of the Sicilian Mafia. The series culminates with the real-life death of Messina Denaro in September 2023, bringing a definitive end to a criminal career spanning thirty years.
The Hunt for “The Last Godfather”
For years, Colonel Lucio Gambera, portrayed by Lino Guanciale, led a team of ROS Carabinieri relentlessly tracking Messina Denaro. According to the series synopsis, Gambera faced immense pressure, receiving an ultimatum from his superiors: three months to apprehend the fugitive or face the disbandment of his unit. This high-stakes environment forms the core tension of “The Invisible,” a production by CamFilm in collaboration with Rai Fiction.
The breakthrough came when Gambera’s team discovered crucial intelligence – pizzini (small notes) hidden at the home of Messina Denaro’s sister – detailing the boss’s health condition and the clinic where he was receiving treatment. This information paved the way for a meticulously planned and risky operation.
From Capture to Incarceration and Death
On January 16, 2023, the decades-long manhunt concluded in Palermo. Messina Denaro was arrested by the ROS Carabinieri and GIS forces on Via Domenico Lo Faso, near the “La Maddalena” clinic in the San Lorenzo district. He was apprehended while attending a chemotherapy session, having concealed his identity under the alias Andrea Bonafede. His driver, Giovanni Luppino, was also taken into custody, accused of aiding and abetting the fugitive.
Following his arrest, Messina Denaro was transported via military flight to Pescara and then to a high-security prison in L’Aquila. The choice of L’Aquila was strategic, providing access to an oncology unit for his ongoing cancer treatment and proximity to Rome.
However, his time in prison was short-lived. After a rapid deterioration in his health and several days in a coma, Messina Denaro died on September 25, 2023, at the age of 61, in a maximum-security ward at the San Salvatore hospital in L’Aquila. He was subsequently buried in a private ceremony at the Castelvetrano cemetery.
A Cast Blending Actors and Musicians
“The Invisible” features a compelling cast, including veteran actor Lino Guanciale as Colonel Gambera. Alongside him, singer Claudia Feeling, known professionally as Levante, makes her acting debut as Maria, Gambera’s wife. The character of Maria is described as a strong and courageous woman who grapples with the sacrifices demanded by her husband’s dangerous profession.
The series also showcases the talents of singer Leo Gassmann, son of Alessandro Gassmann and winner of Sanremo’s Nuove Proposte in 2020, who plays Ram, a radio interception expert within the team. Other notable cast members include Massimo De Lorenzo, Giacomo Stallone, Roberto Scorza, Naomi Brando, Paolo Briguglia, and Bernardo Casertano, portraying various members of the investigative team. Nini Bruschetta embodies the figure of Matteo Messina Denaro.
“The Invisible” aims to honor the dedication and silent work of the law enforcement officials involved in bringing one of Italy’s most dangerous criminals to justice. The series promises a tense and revealing look into the complex operation that finally brought an end to Messina Denaro’s reign.
