Don’t miss the chance to witness a heartwarming story that reminds us that sometimes, the most unexpected places teach us the most valuable lessons. ‘Un mondo a part’ is based in Abruzzo and was filmed in Opi, Pescasseroli, Gioia dei Marsi and L’Aquila. It addresses the very real issue of the closure of local rural schools due to depopulation and the resilience of the human spirit, the power of education, and the strength of community bonds.
Arriving in the Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park during a snowstorm, a seasoned elementary school teacher, Michele Cortese, embarks on a new chapter of his life.
He faces a unique challenge late in his career – a teaching position far from Rome at the Cesidio Gentile Institute, a school nestled in the heart of nature. The stage is set for an emotional journey as Cortese, brilliantly portrayed by Antonio Albanese, takes on the task with determination.
Agnese, the Vice-Principal, is played by the talented Virginia Raffaele. Together, they form an unlikely duo with a mission: to breathe life into a school threatened by dwindling enrollments.
As Cortese acclimates to the picturesque setting and the multi-age class filled with spirited children aged 7 to 10, he discovers that real education goes beyond textbooks. With Agnese’s support and the camaraderie of the students, he sheds his metropolitan veneer and becomes an integral part of the close-knit community.
However, just as everything seems to fall into place, a heartbreaking revelation shakes the foundations of their newfound harmony: the school is set to close its doors in June due to the stark decline in enrollments.
And so, the race against time begins. The film beautifully captures the essence of a community coming together, transcending boundaries to save something they hold dear. Will Cortese and Agnese’s efforts be enough to defy the odds and keep the Cesidio Gentile Institute alive?
“Un Mondo a Parte,” is directed by Riccardo Milani, who has a house in Pescasseroli and knows Abruzzo intimately enough to deliver a poignant narrative that delves into the resilience of the human spirit, the power of education, and the strength of community bonds.
The film will be on general release from 28th March 2024.
Watch the Trailer
Author: Sam Dunham
Sam is a very lucky midlife 'mamma' to A who is 12 and juggles her work as a self-employed freelance SEO food and travel copywriter and EFL teacher. She is the founder of the Life In Abruzzo Cultural Association, co-founder of Let's Blog Abruzzo. she is the founder of the 'English in the Woods' initiative, teaching English outdoors in a forest style school.
