Albanese and Raffaele: The Masters Conquering Mountains and Hearts – Cinema
In the picturesque setting of Pescasseroli, Antonio Albanese and Virginia Raffaele come together to star in Riccardo Milani’s latest film, “Un mondo a parte” (“A World Apart”). The film, set to be released on March 28th in over 500 theaters, tells the story of Michele Cortese, a primary school teacher who, after forty years of teaching in Rome, is transferred to the remote Cesidio Gentile Institute, also known as Jurico. This unique school, located in the heart of the Abruzzo National Park, consists of a single multi-grade class, with children ranging from seven to ten years old. It is a “world apart” where anything is possible, including integration.
Within this unconventional educational environment, Michele encounters the dynamic vice principal Agnese, played by Virginia Raffaele. Despite initial awkwardness, they both embrace this truly “different world” of a small mountain community, surrounded by snow, wolves, bears, eagles, and a distinctive dialect. Just when everything seems to be going well, news arrives that the school will close due to lack of enrollment. However, Michele and Agnese refuse to give up. They decide to involve Ukrainian refugees with children who have recently arrived in Italy, as well as a Moroccan family, in order to fill the classroom and prevent the school’s closure.
The film was shot in the Abruzzo National Park, as well as in Opi and Pescasseroli. Yesterday evening, a unique premiere took place at the Ettore Scola cinema in Pescasseroli, complete with a band and a green carpet adorned with bear footprints. Many members of the local community attended the premiere, some of whom were part of the cast of “Un mondo a parte.”
Director Riccardo Milani reflects on the film’s purpose: “I made a film that seeks to look at my country, to which I am tied even when I tell its worst aspects. The important thing is to have a careful gaze towards things we do not know. In this area, integration is a reality, and walls are overcome beyond ideologies.”
Virginia Raffaele, who had never before been to the mountains, shares her experience: “In the case of this film, I owe everything to the people I met in these places. They created a real magic that changed me. For example, this weekend, I preferred to stay here rather than return to Rome. In the mountains, you truly feel good within this rough yet enveloping community.”
Why choose Abruzzo as the film’s location? Milani explains, “Because this place has been a point of reference for me over the years. I came here by chance as a child, and there was this fairytale-like aspect with animals and streams. All this is just 150 kilometers from Rome, and above all, there was a different way of approaching life.”
Antonio Albanese concludes with his thoughts on how these places change you: “Here, you rediscover silence, good people, arrosticini (a local dish), and your cholesterol increases. And once again, you discover that Italy is the most beautiful country in the world.”
“Un mondo a parte” promises to be a film that not only entertains but also highlights the sense of community. Giampaolo Letta from Medusa Film describes it as a “different promotion with a well-considered release date.” The film will be promoted locally with numerous previews for schools, which have even been given their own website: Scuole@medusa.it.
(Translated from Italian)