Maria Montessori

Paris, 1900. The famous courtesan Lili d’Alengy hides a shameful secret: her daughter Tina, who was born with a disability. Unwilling to care for a child who could jeopardize her career, she decides to leave Paris. In Rome, she meets Maria Montessori, a dedicated doctor developing a revolutionary teaching method for «disadvantaged» children. But Maria, too, hides a secret – an illegitimate child. As Tina blossoms under Montessori’s care, an unexpected bond forms between Maria and Lili.

This biopic pays a deeply moving tribute to the Italian doctor and educational icon Maria Montessori, namesake of one of the most influential pedagogical movements in history. Director Léa Todorov, who also wrote the screenplay, skillfully intertwines Montessori’s real story with the fictional character of Lili, telling the tale of two women who could not be more different – yet who both strive to find their place in a world dominated by men.