Summary of "Ciak si censura: un libro sui casi di film messi all'indice nella democratica Italia"

Overview

Casa del Sole TV opens the episode marking six years of independent reporting and asks viewers for small monthly donations to fund its editorial work. The program features an interview with journalist and author Vincenzo Lorusso about his new book Ciak si censura, ovvero tutto quello che non vi hanno fatto vedere (Quattro Punti Edizioni), which collects and reconstructs ten RT (Russia Today) documentaries that Lorusso says have been systematically prevented from being shown in Italy.

The book

Title: Ciak si censura, ovvero tutto quello che non vi hanno fatto vedere
Publisher: Quattro Punti Edizioni
Format and contents:
- Ten chapters, each reconstructing the content of an RT documentary.
- Each chapter includes contextual reporting, interviews and a QR code to view the film.
- On‑the‑ground testimonies meant to record perspectives Lorusso says are ignored by Italian mainstream media.

Central thesis

Lorusso argues that in Italy (2025) there is a de facto preventive censorship of certain documentaries—especially RT productions. He traces political pressure, public denunciations and organized campaigns that block screenings even where no explicit law bans them. He frames these actions as a broader attack on freedom of expression and on the ability to criticize government policy.

Legal and political context

EU sanctions: Lorusso acknowledges EU measures that have blocked RT’s broadcasting/streaming in Europe, but contends that screenings in private or public venues are not legally prohibited under Italian law.
Political and civil-society pressure: Despite the lack of explicit legal bans, political figures and pro‑Ukrainian groups allegedly exert pressure on venues and organisers. Examples of tactics include threats to withhold municipal funding and public denouncements that lead venues to cancel events or keep locations secret.
Confusion and consequences: According to Lorusso, interventions and statements by politicians and the European Commission create confusion that results in de facto restrictions on screenings.

Examples and on‑the‑ground testimonies highlighted in the book

Mariupol / “I Am Alive”: Testimony of Attilio Condò, who was in Mariupol in February 2022; he recounts bombings and civilian terror that the chapter attributes to Ukrainian forces/Azov and argues that civilians were held hostage and humanitarian corridors were blocked or dangerous.
Donbas / “The Hidden War”: Interview with Anna Saroca (preface author), a former Ukrainian lieutenant who frames the 2014–onward violence as Ukrainian aggression against Donbas civilians and describes siege conditions in Lugansk.
Death of journalist/activist Maria Pirogova (killed in Donetsk, Dec 2022): Testimony from her mother and reporting on social‑media reactions.
Additional reporting covers Donbas, the Maidan protests (the book argues there is evidence Maidan involved a coup), and other works Lorusso claims have been censored.

Censorship incidents and pressure tactics recounted

Pressure from local officials and mayors to cancel screenings (example cited: Villa Paradiso in Bologna and Mayor Matteo Lepore).
Threats and harassment against venue managers; anonymous calls on X (formerly Twitter) encouraging disruption (one call allegedly threatened to pass coordinates to the Israeli army).
Festival pressures: complaints against an RT film festival in Gorizia and other festival organisers facing intervention; in Belgium a screening was reportedly blocked after the Ukrainian ambassador’s intervention, though it was later relocated and held.
Distribution and platform issues: technical/dubbing difficulties for RT documentaries and repeated removals/censorship on online platforms.

Wider argument and tone

Lorusso and the program frame these events as symptomatic of shrinking pluralism and an intolerance for dissenting narratives in Italy and Europe. They claim critics are often labeled “pro‑Putin” rather than engaged with the films’ evidence. Despite limited mainstream coverage, the book reportedly achieved strong sales in niche charts shortly after release.

Events and promotion

Promotion of an upcoming RT Doc Festival in Italy (scheduled for April 11–12; city kept secret).
The festival is said to feature Italian and international guests and exclusive documentary presentations, including films about Gaza and Donbas.

Practical notes

The book’s 10 chapters mirror 10 documentaries and include QR codes to view the films.
Available through major Italian booksellers and online marketplaces.

Presenters and contributors (as presented in the program)

Clara — host, Casa del Sole TV
Vincenzo Lorusso — author, interviewee
Massimo Recchioni — publisher, Quattro Punti Edizioni
Ecaterina Jacobleva / Eccaterina Icovleva — credited introduction / RT‑related editor (name appears with variants)
Anna Saroca / Anna Soroca — preface author; interviewed (Commissioner for Human Rights of the Luhansk/Lugansk People’s Republic; name variants noted)
Yorit — artist; afterword
Attilio Condò — witness from Mariupol, interviewed
Maria Pirogova — journalist/activist (deceased); interview with her mother included
Professor Angelo Dorsi — listed as festival/guest
Clara Statello — journalist, listed as a guest
Fiammetta Cucurnia — listed as a guest
Alexander Penas — Belgian director
Alam — Lebanese director mentioned
Pina Picierno — politician cited for initiating questions about screenings
Carlo Calenda — politician referenced
Matteo Lepore — mayor of Bologna, cited in a censorship example
Federica Onori — politician cited
Casa del Sole TV — producer/host organization
RT / Russia Today — source of the documentaries discussed