My Class

The seemingly straightforward tale of a compassionate veteran teacher offering Italian lessons to a diverse group of immigrants is given much greater depth and complexity through the storytelling approach of director Daniele Gaglianone. By blurring the boundaries between reality and fiction, truth and illusion, and documentary and drama, Gaglianone crafts a film within a film. The apparent contrivance of Gaglianone’s crew, which includes professional actors like the renowned Valerio Mastandrea as the teacher, is intertwined with the ‘real’ immigrant characters who are learning the language to enhance their job prospects and secure permanent residency. Throughout the lessons, the students’ personal stories unfold, revealing both painful and poignant moments, while also offering humor as they connect and share their humanity, overcoming cultural barriers in their collective pursuit of a better life.