IFF A World Apart

An Italian box office hit, A WORLD APART is a heartwarming dramatic comedy from Riccardo Milani ('Like a Cat on a Highway') and explores small town life and the power of education.

After 40 years of teaching in the metropolitan jungle of Rome, primary school teacher Michele Cortese (Antonio Albanese) moves to an idyllic village in the heart of the Abruzzo National Park, to teach at a tiny school with only a handful of students aged seven to ten. He struggles to overcome the challenges of small-town life to entertaining results but finds a friendly face in vice-principal Agnese (Virginia Raffaele) and gradually adapts, thanks to her and their spirited pupils. However, when all seems well, unwelcome news arrives: the school has failed to meet its student enrolment quota for the next year and will be forced to close. So begins a race against time to save the school, whatever it takes. Filmed on location in Abruzzo, A WORLD APART highlights the sense of community spirit, creativity and resilience in small towns.

“Led by two champions, Albanese and Raffaele, who have great chemistry.” - CineFilos

WINNER - Best Comedy, Best Actress in a Comedy, Nastri d’Argento Awards 2024

OFFICIAL SELECTION - Shanghai International Film Festival 2024

OFFICIAL SELECTION - Festival del Cinema Italiano Japan 2024

Italian Language, English Subtitles