Hotel Portofino: A Glimpse into 1920s Liguria on Sky
Set in the Italian Riviera of the 1920s, *Hotel Portofino* follows Bella Ainsworth, a hotel manager, and her family amid a cast of intriguing characters, exploring themes of family, passion, and mystery.
Set against the picturesque backdrop of the Italian Riviera in 1926, Hotel Portofino introduces viewers to Bella Ainsworth, the manager of a luxurious hotel catering to English-speaking tourists in the charming town of Portofino. Bella's family includes her husband Cecil, who is portrayed as lazy and preoccupied with gambling, their industrious daughter Alice, and their son Lucian, a World War I veteran aspiring to be a painter, whom Cecil wishes to marry off to a wealthy heiress.
The series is populated with a diverse cast of characters, ranging from a gossipy widow and her granddaughter to a Roman nobleman and his son, an American dancer with an eccentric fiancé, and a famous tennis player with his wife. Alice's daughter and her babysitter, a rebellious cook with a son, and a maid complete this ensemble, all set against the historical backdrop of the rising fascism of the era.
Blending elements reminiscent of Downton Abbey—with its focus on the upper class and their servants—and the esteemed films of James Ivory, such as A Room with a View and Howards End, Hotel Portofino offers sumptuous locations and exquisite costumes. The characters exhibit a blend of snobbery and formality, while the narrative delves into themes of family dynamics, passion, sisterhood, domestic violence, blackmail, betrayal, and a touch of mystery akin to Agatha Christie’s works.
Scheduled to premiere on Sky Serie and NOW on February 28, 2022, this new period drama was filmed in both Portofino and Croatia. The cast features a strong lineup of British actors, including Natasha McElhone, Anna Chancellor, and Mark Umbers, alongside notable Italian talents like Daniele Pecci, Rocco Fasano, and Lorenzo Richelmy.
