Direction: Stefano Maria Bianchi
Production/TV: Rai Radiotelevisione Italiana
Country: Italy
Year: 2026
Genre: Documentary
Channel: Rainews24 and Raiplay
Duration: 1h
SYNOPSIS
Behind bars is an investigative documentary on the Italian prison system, directed by Stefano Maria Bianchi and broadcast on Spotlight, a current affairs program on RaiNews24.
“Sbarre” explores the Italian prison system, bringing to light its deepest contradictions. Through a direct and unfiltered narrative, the film enters prisons in Taranto, Viterbo, and Santa Maria Capua Vetere, intertwining personal stories, data, and testimonies from staff and inmates.
From overcrowding to the collapse of prison healthcare, from the struggles of addiction and mental illness to cases of institutional violence, a portrait emerges of a system pushed to its limits—where punishment constantly clashes with human dignity.
“Sbarre” is not only a journey inside prisons, but a reflection on the society that produces them: a space where inequalities, fears, and collective responsibilities are mirrored.
