[Savage Beast]

The protagonist is the main or most important character. It need not be a hero. It comes from the Greek word protagônistçs, from agônistes, competitor or contestant, from agôn, “contest” (the word agony comes from the same source). In classical Greek drama, the protagonist was the first character to interact with the chorus. In modern usage, there may be multiple protagonists, meaning multiple main characters, but they need not be heroic; they can be anti-heroes or whatever.

[wally-balls]

JFK assassination [coming to TV], Savage Beast wrote:
The protagonist is the main or most important character. It need not be a hero. It comes from the Greek word protagônistçs, from agônistes, competitor or contestant, from agôn, “contest” (the word agony comes from the same source). In classical Greek drama, the protagonist was the first character to interact with the chorus. In modern usage, there may be multiple protagonists, meaning multiple main characters, but they need not be heroic; they can be anti-heroes or whatever.
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anti-heros for sure, but certainly not villains and I would think Rossellini fits into the villain category (depending on ones perspective)