Busto Arsizio - The Busto Arsizio summer film festival closes with "A World Apart": Antonio Albanese and the School in the Mountains - - Varese News

The 2025 edition of the Busto Arsizio summer film festival concludes on Saturday, August 30th , in the garden of Villa Calcaterra . For seven consecutive Saturdays, the festival has brought the big screen outdoors, offering free cultural and entertainment opportunities. The project is curated by the Michelangelo Antonioni Film Institute, as part of the BA Summer 2025 program.

The series concludes with " A World Apart " by Riccardo Milani (2024, 113 minutes), starring Antonio Albanese as Michele Cortese, an elementary school teacher transferred to a small school in the heart of the Abruzzo National Park. Initially disoriented, the teacher discovers an authentic and stimulating environment, where he rediscovers enthusiasm and a sense of his educational role. His serenity, however, is shattered by the news that, due to declining enrollment, the school is at risk of closing. Cortese will then find himself confronting bureaucracy, institutional obstacles, and a difficult battle to safeguard a vital bastion of culture and community.

The film touches on current issues such as the depopulation of inland areas, the crisis of public schools, and civic engagement, with a style that combines empathy and lightheartedness. Alongside Albanese, the cast also includes Virginia Raffaele, Simone Corbisiero, and Giorgio Montanini .

Like all the others, the screening will take place in the garden of Villa Calcaterra, at Via Magenta 70, with free admission until the approximately 100 seats are filled . The screening starts at 9:00 PM. In case of inclement weather, the screening will be canceled.