Rai 1 Orders Prime-Time Drama While I Was Away

Rai Fiction and Endemol Shine Italy are working together on the prime-time drama series While I Was Away for Rai 1.

While I Was Away tells the story of a wealthy woman who awakens from a coma after an accident in which her husband and a man she supposedly had an affair with both lost their lives. The 6×100-minute series, known in Italy as Mentre ero via, stars Vittoria Puccini (Elisa di Rivombrosa, Anna Karenina) in the lead role.

The drama is written by Ivan Cotroneo (Un’altra vita, Sorelle) and Monica Rametta (Un’altravita, Sorelle) and directed by Michele Soavi (Rocco Schiavone, Ultimo).

Benedetta Galbiati, head of scripted of Endemol Shine Italy, said: “This series becomes a gripping tale of love, betrayal, loss and soul-searching. With a brilliant cast, writing team and director at the helm, we’re confident this will be yet another successful partnership between Rai Fiction and Endemol Shine Italy.”

Eleonora Andreatta, head of drama at Rai, added: “While I Was Away is one of the projects that fits perfectly with Rai Fiction’s international strategy, which is made up of high concept, contemporary genre stories and modern languages. It’s the tale of a woman who after suffering a trauma, fights to rediscover her identity and come back to life. The complex and intriguing idea of the leading character is coupled with a Hitchcockian atmosphere and implemented in the direction and writing style to engage surprise the most avid serial drama fan.”