ROME – On 10 June 1981, in the countryside around Rome, a child fell into a well. Thus began a heartbreaking story that kept the whole of Italy glued to the TV for two days: the tragedy of Vermicino. This evening and tomorrow, at 9.30pm on Rai 1, the miniseries ‘Alfredino, an Italian story’ will be broadcast. It is the story of the accident of little Alfredo Rampi, and what followed. In four episodes (two broadcast on Tuesday, two more the following day) director Pontecorvo manages to make a very accurate historical reconstruction of those days, and to highlight the very strong emotional side that struck the whole heart Italy.
Anna Foglietta is precise and courageous in lending herself to interpret Franca Rampi: the many Italians who glued themselves to the television screen in those days have never forgotten that mother’s face and words. Francesco Acquaroli is the commander of the Elveno Pastorelli Fire Brigade; Vinicio Marchioni plays Nando Broglio, the fireman who tried to keep Alfredo company and motivate him during those terrible hours and Luca Angeletti is Alfredo’s father, Ferdinando Rampi. p>
On 10 June 1981, the whole of Italy stopped, motionless and moved in front of the TV. The eyes glued to the screen, the bated breath and the prayers of those who, until the end, hoped to see Alfredino Rampi’s smile again.
The 6-year-old boy fell into an artesian well in Vermicino (Frascati) and was stuck 60 meters deep. The then President of the Republic, Sandro Pertini, also arrived at the site of the accident to give comfort to the child’s family. The intervention of the Fire Brigade was of no avail, as they tried to save Alfredino in every way. Among the attempts made, there was also that of Angelo Licheri, 36 years old at the time, who, due to his small build, agreed to lower himself into the well. Here he remained upside down for 45 minutes, hoping to grab Alfredino. But the more the little one moved, the more he slipped towards the bottom. A heartbreaking story, which ended with the recovery of the child’s lifeless body, after over 65 hours of work.
A case, that of Rampi, who is also rememberedfor the long Rai live broadcast, the first of the modern television eraand for the birth of the Civil Protection >, which occurred precisely following that event.