The story of a ransom: the story of Vinci's kidnapping in Assemini

On Monday at 7:30 p.m., the Municipal Auditorium in Assemini will screen "Storia di un riscatto," a film directed by Stefano Odoardi that tells the dramatic story of the kidnapping of Giuseppe Vinci , who was kidnapped in 1994 and released 310 days later. Afterward, the former kidnapper, who was present during the screening, will engage in a conversation with those present and with Culture Councilor Sergio Nuvoli .

The event, organized by Sardegna Teatro, is funded and supported by the Department of Culture of the Municipality of Assemini. "This initiative aims to honor Giuseppe Vinci," comments Councilor Sergio Nuvoli, "and at the same time provides a moment of profound reflection on a particularly difficult period in Sardinia, marked by the season of seizures and asset freezes. It will be fascinating to hear the protagonist's own account of what happened, not only during those dramatic 310 days, but also afterward."

The screening will be followed by a meeting with Giuseppe Vinci , the protagonist of the story, transforming the viewing into an opportunity for direct dialogue with those present. The evening will also feature a reproduction of the facility where Vinci was held prisoner , a device that vividly conveys the extreme isolation he experienced during his kidnapping.

"Story of a Ransom" reconstructs the true story of the Sardinian entrepreneur, kidnapped in 1994 and held prisoner for 310 days inside a plywood coffin, during the longest kidnapping attributed to the Anonima Sequestri. This film portrays an extreme experience not only as a true story, but also as a journey of inner resistance and the reconquest of freedom.

The cinematic narrative explores the trauma without stopping there , but questions human dignity, fear, isolation, and the ability to transform a dramatic experience into awareness and civic testimony. Also central is the theme of relationships with others and that attitude of kindness which, in Vinci's story, takes on a profoundly salvific value.

Directed by Stefano Odoardi, “Storia di un riscatto” was released in Italian theaters on October 15, 2025. Produced by Superotto Film Production, in collaboration with Sardegna Teatro, and distributed by Superotto Film Production, the work has attracted significant audience participation since its release, giving rise to a series of screenings and meetings that has progressively expanded its cultural and civic dimension.

At the meeting following the screening, Giuseppe Vinci will retrace not only the events that marked the 310 days of his imprisonment, but above all what that experience has produced over time : his relationship with fear and silence, the meaning of freedom after liberation, the possibility of rebuilding trust and transforming his own experience into a tool for dialogue with others.

Admission is free and subject to availability.

(Unioneonline/AD)