Family stories in Italy and the United States. From parenthood to yutto può succedere

This article provides an analysis of the TV series Tutto può succedere (Anything could happen) (RAI 1, 2015-2018), the Italian adaptation of the American format Parenthood (NBC, 2010-2015). Assuming that every form of reproduction from an original text is always a ‘new story’, the main objective is to examine the narrative efficacy of the Italian adaptation both in terms of stylistic and expressive forms and cultural identity of the product. Through a qualitative analysis of the texts, I highlight the founding elements of the new story as compared to the original: a stronger enhancement of the family’s unity; an approach to everyday reality more in a private perspective; a cultural reworking of the female characters. I argue that Tutto può succedere is an effective adaptation, since it succeeds in giving the story a specific Italian identity (the value of family and motherhood), and in taking from Parenthood innovative forms of storytelling with respect to the Italian narrative tradition