Venice Film Festival: Il Maestro Film Review

"Il Maestro," a comedy about life's dramas

Andrea Di Stefano seems to focus on those unrepeatable moments in life that can change one's existence. In the film "Il Maestro," he juxtaposes two lives at opposite ends, in the style of an Italian comedy where the drama emerges from one's escape from responsibilities (the master) and the other's acceptance of family conditioning (the student). A clash of visions that, instead of distancing them, brings them together. The Master is overcome by mood swings, aware of his own failure, while the student wishes to be himself but is too respectful of his father's teachings. When they depart on a journey in the late 1970s that will take them to national tournaments, neither suspects that they are each other's salvation; instead, both seem to be searching for themselves.

"Il Maestro" develops a narrative in the style of comedy, supported by ironic sequences against a backdrop of existential and personal dramas. Multiple themes are addressed, from expectations placed on children, to rebellion against rules that eliminate one's personality, to the disappointment of not having accepted one's responsibilities, which generates intolerance and a sense of ridicule. Above all, it speaks of failures, creating a metaphor with the game of tennis, representing life as a match that offers the opportunity to try to win again or at least play according to one's aspirations. No one crosses the point of no return if they can hope to win, or at least have a second chance. "Il Maestro" is a pleasant comedy that addresses profound and relevant themes with style and lightness.