
An English teacher at technical school in the outskirts of Rome knows that her twenty-four eighteen-year-old students do not consider her a human being, speak ill of her, are ready to contest her and feel a morbid curiosity towards her private life. Still, she tries to relate to them and the result of this effort is "a great love story". Cenciarelli describes the lessons (strictly in English, despite the students' protestations), the fights in and out of class, the students' tricks, their need to confront each other, their desire to show themselves superior, their weaknesses and their loneliness. As the seasons go by, the relationship between teacher and students becomes more complicated and deepens, alternating moments of great enthusiasm and great disappointment, until the baccalaureate exam, about which she cares more than they do.
Directed by Umberto Riccioni Carteni, Classmates leans on a strong ensemble — Anna Ferzetti, Sara Silvestro, Zoe Massenti — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.
The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about drama titles of 2026.
Read More on the Blog
Loading reviews…
Rome, 1984, Aria is nine-year-old girl. On the verge of divorce, Aria's infantile and selfish parents are too preoccupied with their careers and extra-marital affairs to properly tend to any of Aria's needs. While her two older sisters are pampered, Aria is treated with cold indifference. Yet she yearns to love and to be loved. At school, Aria excels academically but is considered a misfit by everyone. She is misunderstood. Aria finds comfort in her cat - Dac and in her best friend - Angelica. Thrown out of both parents' homes, abandoned by all, even her best friend, Aria finally reaches the limit of what she can bear. She makes an unexpected decision in her life.
Get weekly picks and blog posts in your inbox.
Live availability isn't tracked for this title yet — try these popular platforms: