Midwest Premiere

A “commedia all’italiana” for anyone who still believes the world has the potential to be better, one tennis lesson at a time.

6:00 PM Opening Night Aperitivo (one drink and light appetizers included) • Aster Cafe, Hall of Kings

7:30 PM Opening Remarks • The Main Cinema

7:45 PM Opening Movie “Il Maestro”

This film is recommended for audiences of all ages, yet some sexual content could be considered inappropriate for children under 13

ABOUT THE FILM

Italy, 1989. After years of rigorous training under his father’s supervision, 13-year-old Felice (Tiziano Menichelli) finally enters the professional, national tennis circuit. To his surprise, instead of the carefree Summer he believes to have finally earned, Felice finds himself under the guidance of Raul Gatti (Pierfrancesco Favino), a selfstyled former national tennis champion and quite the peculiar and unconventional “Maestro”. One qualifying match after another, the two begin a journey along the Italian coast; amidst defeats, lies, and bizarre encounters, an unexpected and unique bond develops between the two, leading Felice to discover the taste of freedom and Raul to glimpse the possibility of a new beginning.

DIRECTORS BIO:

Andrea Di Stefano is an Italian movie director and screenwriter. He began his career in cinema as an actor working with Marco Bellocchio, Dario Argento, and Ang Lee. His first directorial feature was “Escobar: Paradise Lost” starring Benicio Del Toro in 2014, followed in 2019 by “The Informer" with Joel Kinnaman, Rosamund Pike, Clive Owen, Ana De Armas. In 2023, his first Italian film,” The Last Night of Amore” starring Pierfrancesco Favino, was presented in the Special Gala section of the Berlinale.