Melania Rea on HBO Max: Italian series revisits a femicide

Melania Rea has been available on HBO Max in France since November 6, 2026. In this four-part Italian drama, Maria Esposito plays a young mother whose death in 2011 sparked a highly publicized investigation.

On April 20, 2011, the body of 29-year-old Melania Rea is found in a forest near Ripe di Civitella, in the Abruzzo region. The series alternates between the investigation and scenes from before the murder. These flashbacks tell the story of Melania’s life with her husband, military serviceman Salvatore Parolisi, played by Daniele Rienzo, and their young daughter.

Doriana Leondeff and Bianca Rondolino, who created the series, are interested in what the investigation uncovers beneath the couple’s apparently normal façade. The narrative moves from the crime story to the controlling and isolating behavior that shaped Melania’s everyday life. The legal proceedings thus provide a framework for the story of a woman whose life began long before the events that made her known to the public.

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The series is a psychological thriller based on real events. It revisits a case that helped bring the term “femicide” into the Italian public debate, while following Melania’s perspective throughout the episodes.

For more, check out our selection of new arrivals on HBO Max in November, our guide to streaming releases across all platforms, and today’s picks in What to watch on streaming today.

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