Maria Montessori: una vita per i bambini (2007)

These days I've been watching a twofold Italian TV film about Maria Montessori, the founder of the Montessori schools. As you can tell by the subtitle - una vita per i bambini - it's the kind of historic movie that's all in ochre and sunbathed colours, where even the real poor children beating each other up in the streets make you long for the good old times when life was so slow and colourful, before cars arrived and people started to sit with crooked backs like me right now. Because Maria Montessori (charismatic Paola Cortellesi) has a very straight back, you know. She also has a very strong character, especially in dialogue with the masses of men (Maria Montessori was the first woman in Italy to study medicine) that have no idea children don't need only clean beds but also warmth and affection - and a patient and warm side to it that makes all the rioting children come circle around her feet when she sits down in a corner with a baby in her arms. If only life was that easy for me! If only I was like that! - It's always nice to watch a movie where you can rely on the main character to remain true to (especially) her-self whatever dictator comes up. The impersonation of a pretty thought...