LOS ANGELES — The historical drama “The Criminologist” directed by Antonio Rojch, was presented during the 21st edition of LA, Italia – Film, Fashion and Art Festival, bringing to Hollywood a powerful story rooted in the complex social and political history of Sardinia.
The film tells the life of Gonario Pinna, a renowned Sardinian lawyer and criminologist whose personal story unfolds against the turbulent background of early twentieth-century Barbagia. Through his experiences and reflections, the narrative explores themes of justice, political conflict and the phenomenon of banditry that marked the island’s history during that period.
At the center of the story is the dramatic assassination of Giuseppe Pinna, mayor of Nuoro and a radical political figure, an event that shook the country and deeply influenced Gonario’s life and professional path. The film reconstructs these events through the perspective of his son, intertwining personal memory with broader historical tensions within Sardinian society.
Starring Maurizio Pulina, alongside Barbara De Rossi, Simeone Latini and Mauro Addis, the film blends biography and historical reconstruction to portray a complex portrait of a man whose work and ideas shaped debates around justice, crime and social order in Sardinia.
Presented at LA, Italia 2026, the film offered international audiences a compelling look into a lesser-known chapter of Italian history, highlighting once again the festival’s commitment to showcasing stories that connect local histories with universal themes of justice, identity and social transformation.
Founded and produced by Pascal Vicedomini, LA, Italia – Film, Fashion and Art Festival is promoted by the Istituto Capri nel Mondo with the support of the Italian Ministry of Culture, under the patronage of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) and the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy (MIMIT), in collaboration with Intesa Sanpaolo, KPMG and Rainbow, and with the participation of the Consulate General of Italy in Los Angeles, ICE – Italian Trade Agency, and the Italian Cultural Institute of Los Angeles.
