Mafia Only Kills in Summer

Palermo in 1979 feels both ordinary and tense as a family tries to keep life on track while the shadow of the Cosa Nostra looms over the city. The Giammarresi, a couple with a ten year old son and a sixteen year old daughter, face the daily grind of work, school, bills, and the constant scramble for peace in a neighborhood that never seems quite safe. The series follows Lorenzo and Pia as they juggle parental worries with the odd, sometimes comic, way crime seeps into their routines. Instead of a glossy crime saga, it watches a city under pressure through the eyes of a boy who is growing up and the adults who want to shield him. It is inspired by Pif's film and told with a dry wit and patient, observant storytelling.

Created by Pif, Mafia Only Kills in Summer premiered in 2016. The series draws on Pierfrancesco Diliberto's film and features Claudio Gioè as Lorenzo Giammaresi, Anna Foglietta as Pia Melfi, Eduardo Buscetta as Salvatore Giammaresi, Francesco Scianna as Massimo Melfi, and Valentina D'Agostino as Patrizia.

Critics and viewers note the show for balancing humor with a troubling historical backdrop, offering a grounded, human take on life during a turbulent era. The tone mixes light personal moments with the weight of real events, and the audience score sits around 7.7 out of 10 from 48 votes.

The title has become a touchstone in discussions of Italian crime drama, signaling a willingness to examine family life under the shadow of organized crime. It helped popularize a more intimate, observational style that portrays Sicilian history without preaching and invites steady conversations about memory and resilience.

Awards: There are no widely reported major nominations or wins for Mafia Only Kills in Summer. Still, the show earned attention for its performances and distinctive blend of comedy and crime, contributing to Italy's ongoing conversation about the era.