When I saw on Italian T.V. last year, I was impressed with the quality of the drama,dialogue and its generally realistic tone about present day (and past) Italian society, in the film ! Prof.Lipari(played by Silvio Orlando), is a charismatic,disillusioned but yet popular teacher with the pupils in a run down state school,but yet, always in conflict with his colleagues,especially with the headmaster !
His life is further complicated when a new(beautiful) female teacher , arrives who proves to be even better than him in creating a rapport with the students ! The new teacher was one of his ex pupils.And she candidly admits that when she was a student she was deeply in love with him ! This surprising revelation revives memories in Prof.Lipari when he went out with some of his students, especially her and a male student(Gangia?).At this time Prof. lipari had created an ideal relationship with his students, which he can't create now. The student Gangia?(not sure if its his name) is troubled with his life, and cannot reach out to his friend,Lipari, he subsequently kills himself after leading a life of drugs and drink ! His death haunts Prof.Lipari till this day, making it even more difficult for him to create relationships with anyone.
It sounds like a pretty dreary film, but there is a strong overtone of irony,sarcasm and comedy in the whole film, making this film, far more enjoyable to watch, without being too meleodramatic !
The script of this film, could be taken up by an American film company, with perhaps Robin Williams as the teacher ! It would have a good chance of success !(The film has a rather indecisive and sad ending,which the Americans would just hate, but thats the way we Europeans like our cinema, realistic and gray, not black and white with happy endings !) But first the producers must see this film well, and even read the book from where the script originated from ! Definitely I think this film is far better than 'Dead Poets Society' a film I didn't even see to the end, I was so bored by it !
For its melanchonical style,and good story line it deserves the 8 vote I gave it.
