No, this isn’t your typical thirst trap tale. There’s a seductive depth to Rocco Siffredi beyond his moniker as the “Italian Stallion.”
The fact that you’re here means only one thing: you also got curious about the graphics and unsettling exploration made by Netflix in this daring show—or maybe you’re just itching to know what all the fuss is about. Who wouldn’t? We’re talking about Rocco Siffredi here, the Italian porn actor, director, and producer who has over 1,300 steamy films under his belt since ’86.
In fact, Francesca Manieri initially laughed when approached by producer Lorenzo Mieli to create a TV dramatization of Rocco Siffredi’s life. Come to think of it, the collaboration between a feminist writer and director and a global porn icon seemed like opposites at first glance. Yet, the contrast also adds an intriguing layer to the project.
In an interview, the co-creator of Call Me By Your Name explained how quite difficult it is still for women to explore maleness. “Rocco does not represent the exception of masculinity but the excess of it, so I said to myself, ‘OK, let’s take the opportunity to go into the core of it; to narrate the art of masculinity through a female point of view’. And I think it’s very important for a man to be narrated by a woman right now.”
Here’s the True Story Behind Netflix’s ‘Supersex’
Loosely based on the life of renowned porn star Rocco Siffredi, Supersex is a seven-part mini-series that explores themes of—guess what—family, masculinity, and toxic relationships. Yes, it’s not typically what you think it is.
Though the series doesn’t shy away from sex and provocative scenes, its overarching narrative focuses on understanding the man behind the Italian Stallion persona—which means looking into Rocco’s past, including the challenges he faced early on, relationship struggles, and vices people usually turn into to cope with problems.
Played by Alessandro Borghi, Supersex captures the journey of Rocco from his impoverished and oppressed upbringing, including enduring abuse from his older half-brother to his immersion in the sex club scene, where he met the French porn star Gabriel Pontello, and ultimately rising to prominence as one of the adult entertainment industry’s most recognizable figures.
Apart from examining Rocco’s childhood, the series also zooms into the actor’s early fixation on sex, starting from childhood when he discovered a porn magazine titled Supersex up to how this obsession persisted throughout his life, impacting not only his mental health but also damaging his relationships with family and romantic partners.
While Supersex may not fulfill the expectations of a traditional biopic, the mini-series offers a profound exploration of Rocco’s life and career. More importantly, it delves into the universal human quest for self-discovery and expression. By humanizing the legendary figure, the story underscores the reality that individuals, despite their portrayal in explicit media, are still on a journey of self-realization amid the complexities of sexuality, identity, and societal expectations.
Do you have the appetite for stories that challenge societal norms and explore the complexities of human existence in an unapologetically bold manner? This might be your sign to add Supersex on Netflix to your watchlist now.
Cover image credit: Netflix
