My son...
I'm just your mother.
But you, my hero...
my only love...
Are everything to me.
Everything I will achieve...
until my death...
will be for you.
Hey, ho, the roses are in bloom.
Hey, ho, the branches are turning green.
Hey, ho, here comes spring.
Hey, ho, the sun is shining upstairs.
Hey, ho, the girls with their eyes.
Hey, ho, just as bright.
What are you guys doing? And you guys?
Still in deep sleep.
Wake up, wake up.
The world is different today.
Hey, ho, open up quickly.
Hey, ho, my heart is open to you.
Hey, ho, we have to love each other.
Wonderful. -Thank you.
Was the harvest good?
Yes, one bouquet after another.
The lilies?
A military man.
A general?
No. Lieutenant colonel, I believe.
Without war, you don't climb up.
The orchid? -A young man.
Cute, red cheeks.
He still lives with mom...
but he would give up everything to make you happy.
First he would love me...
And then he would hit me.
Yes.
Him or his mother.
There is a more attractive offer.
The roses?
The Italian Prince.
He left a costume behind.
He absolutely wants to see you tonight.
Again?
What will it be this time?
He wants to conquer me.
He has the resources...
and we the needs.
Lili, your crusader is here.
Shall we go?
Good evening, my prince.
What is this?
Ready for the attack?
The duchess landed under the table. -again?
Then we went to the stables.
I thought about my parting gift.
A horse?
He wanted me to taste the milk from his Kyrgyz mare.
For the trouble I demanded his strongest stallion.
Not bad.
And I get to go to Rome.
Rome is not London or Berlin.
Hello, ma'am. -What do you want?
Yvonne Curières?
There is no Yvonne Curières here.
I'll take care of it.
Then go.
Leave us alone.
Here. -Thank you, sir.
You were not hard to find.
I wasn't hiding.
You have changed.
Your cheeks are more hollow.
Mom is dead.
Did you come to Paris for that?
You could have sent a letter.
Don't forget your inheritance. We want to get rid of it now.
Did you really think that we kept her after Mom died?
She will make a great impression on your admirers.
Come back next week. Goodbye.
Lili?
Enter.
It was the tailor.
In two days, everyone will know.
The press within a week.
Outside of Paris?
That can give you an extra week.
I'm going to pack your bags.
For the little one.
My cousin's son was there.
Sorry?
My cousin's son.
Like the little one.
An imbecile.
Good morning, ma'am.
What can I do for you?
I'm waiting for the doctor.
Go get him.
Maria Montessori ...
physician.
What can I do for you?
It is for the child.
Do you accept such children?
Her age?
Nine, I believe.
Is she your daughter?
No... She's my niece.
She is particularly firm.
Are you taking care of her? -No.
What does she eat?
No idea.
Come. We are going to walk.
Come here.
When did she learn to walk?
I don't know.
She has only been with me for a few weeks.
Can she talk?
Can you hire her?
I can pay. Just say how much.
This is a public institution.
No one pays.
We do not accept new children at the boarding school.
But she can come during the day.
But before we adopt children...
we want to make sure they benefit from our reeducation methods.
So you have to come back...
if you want us to do tests....
You did not say her name.
Tina.
Her name is Tina.
Very nice. Welcome, Tina.
Do you hear me?
Giuseppe Montesano ...
my colleague and co-director of the institute.
Pleasant.
Mrs. Curières, from France, and little Tina.
Maria, they are waiting for us. We have to go.
Bye, Tina.
Goodbye.
But.
Monday, eight o'clock?
Dr. Montesano ...
you honor us with your presence.
Could you explain to us...
How a bath can cure idiocy?
You have already proven that there is a strong connection
between general sensibility and moral sentiment.
Criminals and prostitutes are all less sensitive
For pain and touch.
We have discovered that the same is true for imbeciles.
So you support my theory...
That criminals, prostitutes and imbeciles
belong to the same category of degenerates
that undermine the race of our country?
Not if we treat them.
Baths develop skin sensitivity...
and strengthen muscle tissue.
By alternating hot and cold baths,...
their attention is drawn to the outside world.
In preparation for education.
Aren't those poor children just sick?
Do they really belong in an educational institute?
Now we know that even idiot children can learn.
So it would be inhumane....
To put them in an insane asylum.
We must also think of the economic aspect.
Caring for idiots in an asylum is expensive.
With our methods at the institute, which are among the most modern...
in the world belong
we can teach them to read, writing, arithmetic...
but also work...
allowing them to be useful in society.
That is why we have asked you to lead this institute.
But.
When will there be results?
In a few months our children may be able to...
take the same exam as normal children.
I am very much in doubt...
That you succeed in this with these baths.
But we will be back...
For a test...
Of your well-trained monkeys....
Ms. Montessori.
If I became a doctor as a woman.
there is also hope for these idiots.
Maria.
I thought he would burst with anger.
For his behavior in college he deserves it.
Do you have debts?
How did you guess that?
I am often shown as a sign of wealth.
French women are luxuries to flaunt.
And Italian women?
Household furniture.
By the way, do you like your apartment?
Very much so.
Are you inviting me?
Not tonight.
You have been here for two weeks and your door remains closed.
Are you hiding a dead body in my apartment?
Several.
And I wouldn't push too hard....
otherwise you are next.
Lili, my dear friend.
Betsy.
How unexpected.
You, in Rome?
What a nice surprise To see you here.
You look beautiful.
Unbelievable.
I dreamt about you last night. -Really?
What brings you here?
A nasty cough.
The Paris humidity.
The doctors advised me some sun, so....
What about you?
I have been here for a year now.
There is so much to do here.
Hygiene...
illiteracy...
and poverty... -Fascinating.
Excuse me, my supervisor is waiting for me.
See you soon.
Shall we do the exercise?
Come, Matteo.
Look at me.
Can you point that out to me, Serena?
Look at it, Matteo. Focus your attention on it.
Look at it.
With both hands...
open and close.
Close your hands on it.
Close them.
Forward.
Good.
Do you see that? The master Imposes his will. Not the other way around.
Doctor?
I'm going to investigate the French girl.
You help me.
Feet back.
Tina?
Head straight. Good.
We're going to give you now...
measuring.
Stand up straight. Good.
Will you come with me?
Look at me.
Tina?
Occiput: 37.
Are you taking the doll, Tina?
Go on.
Lift your leg.
Ready?
Almost.
One more time?
Come out.
It is difficult.
Your piano is out of tune.
We completed the tests.
And?
The cause is always difficult to determine...
especially at her age.
But.
she didn't get enough attention...
care...
anything that could have helped her.
They remain idiots. There is no remedy.
Then take her again. -No.
This place is fine for her.
She can come during the day.
It will do her good.
So where does she sleep?
I really need to go back to Paris.
There are similar institutes in Paris. Dr. Bourneville is...
That is impossible.
If a spot becomes available, I'll let you know.
I beg you...
This is an educational institution.
No orphanage.
Hello.
Mario, look.
Mom and Dad are there.
How is he doing?
Good. He tries to stand up.
Pick it up.
A piece of apple?
Not the skin, the apple.
See.
From a friend in Paris.
"Lili D'Alengy.
That's Mrs. Curières.
What is she doing in Rome?
She probably wants to hide the girl.
I have an idea.
I want to talk to you about it.
I am listening.
And if you take Mario in?
Why?
Mario is right there.
Then I could see him more often.
Carlotta lives too far away.
Maria, you know...
that it can't.
Why not?
I would lose my job.
My reputation.
You are a man. They don't.
Maria, I love you.
I would do anything for you...
but you can't ask me
disgracing my mother.
Say he's your nephew. -Enough, Mary.
Let's fix this...
as we long ago should have done long ago.
Marry me.
We have already discussed this. -The situation has changed.
Be realistic. We work together, we have Mario ...
What are you afraid of?
My mother wanted to study.
You did.
She was not allowed by my father.
Because she is his possession.
Marriage is not a love pact between two equals.
It is a form of slavery.
Stop.
You act as if I don't know that.
I am not your father.
I know.
I promise to think about it.
I think about it.
It's late.
Your parents...
will be worried.
Good night, Daddy.
Idiot.
Look at this.
You are ruining my life.
Stop or I'll fall.
Hold on.
One more time.
Arms up, open your hand and you grab the bar.
Go on.
Grasp the bar firmly.
One more time.
One, two, three, four....
One more time.
Yes, good.
Grasp the bar.
Squeeze.
Hand around it.
One more time.
Are you still hungry, dear?
Step onto the step.
Get him.
Step onto the step.
Get him.
Come here.
Come.
Very good, Tina.
Circle.
Square.
Jump...
and turn.
Do as I do.
Good for you, Tina.
Do it like this.
No.
You do it, Tina.
Beware.
Square, triangle, circle....
Yes, very good.
You look beautiful.
Hello, Tina.
Come.
Mrs. D'Alengy?
Tina has a strong will.
She has progressed very much.
Please come and see her.
I have to go.
You should stay.
Tina needs you.
She doesn't understand Italian.
Maybe not even French.
I don't need her.
Really?
Like a butterfly.
If you can read this, please give me a kiss.
Well...
Who knows the spring?
What is a spring?
The spring...
is soft...
and white.
"The feather.
Listen. The feather.
See how I put it.
Good.
Go ahead, Ciro.
Let's write the word "spring.
Well...
Anna...
You write it by hand.
Tina, to you I give the letters.
In French, it is la plume.
Tina, I'm coming to you.
Let's see.
We are going to write the word plume.
Shall I help you?
This is la.
Good.
Plume.
And that's... Look at me.
'U.'
Yes.
Very good.
Good.
What is happening?
My apologies.
But.
How cheerful they are.
The music has...
a strange effect on them.
If we had an hour of dance and music right after work?
Look at me.
Carlotta, come.
Mrs. Rosa?
Briefly.
Good.
Thanks. Maria, get Mario.
Excuse me.
Of course.
He had stopped doing that.
He's just imitating the little one.
Enough, Mario.
How big she has grown.
See.
She looks good.
Very good.
She adores Mario. She follows him everywhere.
They are so cute together.
Yesterday I went to see Mario.
I want him to come and live here....
with me, with us.
You know that's impossible.
What is impossible, is that I cannot acknowledge my son.
We can hide it.
If you can read this, please give me a kiss.
One...
two...
and.
Three.
Who is it?
Next month is an important exam.
I think we can have Tina can get Tina to do that, too.
She finished.
One...
two...
and go.
Who is it?
Mom?
Yes.
Come.
Pretty?
Hello.
Hello, ma'am.
Young lady.
What can I do for you?
The red cloak?
For...
I will go get it for you.
Lili? Is that you?
I'm Betsy.
Is that you, Lili?
Forward.
One moment.
Let me through, please.
Out.
I wasn't sure.
That was so long ago.
I thought you were in Paris. -Soon, I hope.
Please.
He was for the girl.
Ma'am?
How nice to run into you like this.
I'm always happy to see you.
See you soon.
Goodbye, friend. -So long.
Continue your exercise.
Grab your pencil.
Here.
Tina?
Did you want to talk to me?
Yes.
A bed will become available in a few days.
We lost a child.
We can let Tina live here.
Come here.
You have to sign here.
Mother's name.
It's better this way.
She was a year old when the doctor said She was an idiot.
Did you leave then?
I was so happy When I held her for the first time.
She was so small...
so beautiful.
But she didn't move enough...
ate not enough...
Didn't cry enough.
After a year, she wasn't even sitting up straight.
My husband looked at her differently.
And then?
With the help of my father had his parents dissolve the marriage.
She was the result of my sins.
It wasn't your fault.
Women don't have to do much...
but I failed at it.
Making a beautiful baby.
Good night, Tina.
Sleep well.
What did you do?
You are not allowed to touch the food on the table.
Go outside, Mario.
Unfortunately, I can't wear both of them.
And then I have the others.
You know what we're going to do?
See what I have for you.
Come here.
Do you see this egg?
You know what we're going to do with it?
Yes, the egg.
You just have to break it like this.
Good, get the spoon.
You open it up like this.
You can keep the bowl.
You don't eat those.
Mix it up.
Yes, Mario.
So, yes.
They don't want to bother you.
They want to imitate you.
Ladies and gentlemen...
professors...
ministers...
This is where we train teachers and educators
and we work with a group of imbeciles....
To develop a new, scientific teaching method.
After a year of experimentation we proudly share...
the result of our work.
Thank you.
Let's start with math.
How much is two times three?
They asked you what two times three is.
Just like in the store.
You bought two cents worth of beans.
One cent bought you three beans.
How many beans do you have?
Six.
Do this subtraction.
Ten minus three.
One...
two...
three...
Seven.
'Alessandro is eating a pear.'
Underline the verb.
'Yesterday...'
'Yesterday...
'at.
'Alessandro...
"a pear.
Do the following sum.
Three plus three times three.
Twelve.
She does not speak Italian.
She is a Frenchwoman.
What is your name?
Will you tell us your name?
She doesn't seem to understand.
Can you write your name on the board?
My name is Tina.
Write this down.
'The rabbit...
'runs in the field.'
Do this division.
Six divided by three.
Excuse me.
After a year of working with my colleague...
Giuseppe Montesano ...
I want to bring you up to speed....
Of my own conclusions.
Of course we made use the methods...
developed by Dr. Seguin
inspired by the great Itard...
and imitated in France by Dr. Bourneville.
But the methods are useless without one secret ingredient.
The new pedagogy...
must recognize the sublime art of motherhood...
To protect...
the normal and abnormal part of society.
An upbringing full of love...
symbolized by women ...
has enabled us to...
presenting these children
for the elementary school examination.
To raise them...
we gave them love first and foremost.
What is all this?
All this material from the institute?
There was nothing here.
I have to deal with my son.
Why did you leave? We were looking for you.
It was a circus. -It was a success.
We have grant funding for the next few years.
Don't you understand?
What?
What good is success at such a high price?
He barely recognizes me.
He calls another woman "mom.
They do that with feeders. -I can't go on like this.
I want to be with my son.
He is a journalist.
A journalist? - Yes.
Children, look over here. Silence, please.
One, two and three.
Ms. Montessori, can you explain this paradox to me?
When I look at you, I see a beautiful, charming woman.
Where does this virile energy from you?
How I regret the times When men wore wigs....
and makeup to look better.
Then they were less ugly.
More feminine perhaps.
Many women, including my wife, are happy not to have to work.
They don't want to not take on male roles.
If women could choose their partners.
If they were economically dependent
men should improve themselves
because of the laws of the market.
And the others, with no chance of children, would remain single.
Hello, Giuseppe Montesano, director of the institute.
If you want, I can show you around.
Maria, can you go back to the children?
No, you do that. My apologies.
His name is Mario.
Where is he?
In a feeder ...
in the countryside.
And his father?
Is it...
Giuseppe, yes.
Why don't you live together?
Then we should get married.
I don't want to be anyone's possession.
But Giuseppe loves you.
Can we entrust our fate ...
to a feeling that is as changeable as love?
So why have a child?
I didn't immediately realize I was pregnant.
I was working constantly.
My mother noticed...
Because my dresses were getting too tight.
Giuseppe and I...
saw ourselves as a modern couple.
We often went to Mario's...
but had our life in Rome.
But when the institution opened...
we had too much work.
I couldn't go there anymore.
Take him to Rome.
Find an apartment...
a nanny for him. -With what money?
Your salary.
I don't get paid for my work.
You joke.
No.
Only Giuseppe gets paid.
You are an idiot.
You spent years studying...
you work incessantly...
And yet you are poor?
You are an idiot.
You've already said that.
You are the most intelligent woman I know...
and you can't pay what I can get like this.
Wealth means freedom...
right to everything...
even respect.
Everything is for sale.
In Paris...
I am praised by the masses....
imitated by married women....
And adored by men I ruin.
To be free...
a woman must be rich.
So they can play for hours.
They don't play.
They work.
How concentrated they are.
The oldest will soon be able to read.
Is it the same with your little idiots?
No, it's very different.
Children at the institute need to be supervised.
While these children...
Picking up things on their own.
As if they sense what to do with it.
Unbelievable.
It looks beautiful on you.
You're kidding me. -Not at all.
He emphasizes your beauty.
You make me even more coquettish.
I certainly hope so.
You have to learn to be attractive...
seduce...
selling yourself.
You are beautiful.
Thanks.
You're welcome.
Thanks to you, I got to know Tina.
It's so strange...
I regret her absence...
but...
Her presence is heavy.
When I look at her...
I think of the girl she should have been.
Don't be so proud.
Ladies and gentlemen...
the unique...
the real ...
the only...
Montessori.
Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.
At the Orthophrenic Institute, together with my colleague Giuseppe Montesano...
co-director of the institute
we followed the methods
invented by Itard...
and Seguin...
No. Stop.
Stop with the names that no one cares about.
All that scientific jargon is boring.
Say "I.
No. -Yes.
'I invented a method.'
Tell us a story.
A story in which you are the heroine.
That's what people expect.
We focus on the wives Of powerful men.
Good evening.
Most are smart...
And because they are bored...
they put their energy into good causes.
Champagne?
Ma'am?
For example.
Our hostess, Betsy.
A remarkable woman.
A theosopher. Powerful.
What does your future look like, Mary?
I am going to reform education.
Really?
Yes.
I have the impression that the institute's methods...
are not specific to idiots.
Their main principles are more rational
than those currently in use.
Continue.
The principle of slavery ...
has until now dominated education.
But.
all forms of slavery are disappearing...
even the sexual slavery of women.
The history of civilization...
is one of conquest....
but also of liberation.
I think it's time To liberate childhood....
thanks to our pedagogy.
Meanwhile, Maria needs a paying job.
Maybe you can do something.
No religion...
surpasses...
the truth.
A greater joy is meaningless...
if that joy...
selfish is...
if we don't sacrifice ourselves....
for the good...
from everyone.
Follow the color.
Red.
Betsy asks me to teach at the university...
On the women's magisterium.
Betsy? -Yes.
A friend. With a lot of power.
Follow the light.
What will you teach?
Anthropology.
Do you do it for the money?
If you needed money, you could ask me for it.
You didn't want to take Mario in.
Is that why you need money?
Yes.
Green.
Aren't you thinking about me?
What they will say about me...
If you live alone with our child?
No one will know it is yours.
Blue.
When I began my studies.
it was unthinkable for a woman to practice medicine.
The knowledge of the human body was to remain a male privilege.
The profession I was most afraid of....
and what for the university caused the most problems
was anatomy.
It was unimaginable that a woman...
was present...
especially with men around...
at a dead body.
I remember my first lesson.
I felt tortured.
As if my body gave out....
As if it died.
And yet...
I saw a wonderful goal before me.
Of course...
Would the way there...
be difficult.
Terrible.
But I felt in me...
an inner confidence...
a great attraction.
And so I decided.
the bitter pill...
to swallow.
Since Eve's original sin...
women have learned...
That knowledge is a sin.
It doesn't.
Women need to free themselves from apathy
of ignorance.
They must make science their own for their emancipation.
Women need to get out of their homes
and share their own experiences.
Motherhood then becomes a social model....
and the structure of society.
Women should be leaders and not slaves of motherhood.
Motherhood is the basis of creation.
It is the source of everything.
And Eva...
Eve is the symbolic mother of humanity
For she knows the secrets of life....
the sexuality...
and death.
Come closer.
Excuse me.
My mother...
Teresa Montesano.
She came to visit from Calabria.
Pleasant, Ms. Montesano.
Giuseppe has told a lot about you.
I was just leaving.
How charming.
You have to get to know her.
Did you hear what a stir my class has caused?
Yes, I know.
You are exaggerating a bit.
I can't help myself...
crushed by your selfishness.
The rector made me come after your show.
He asked if we used corpses at the institute...
for the children.
What an exaggeration.
This is also not the right time.
I have a wedding to arrange.
What?
I'm getting married.
With another woman.
Are you kidding me?
She has been in Rome for a week. She is waiting...
on my answer.
I don't understand.
You have to decide what you want to do with Mario.
Mario?
Yes.
The wedding is in a week.
He can live with you...
Or I acknowledge him, but then you don't see him anymore.
It is time to live According to what you preach.
A modern woman?
A free woman?
Show them what you really are.
An unmarried mother with a two-year-old son.
Mario.
He drowned.
You are delirious.
He was heavy.
You've been lying here for three days unconscious.
He needs me.
No, stay in bed.
You need to rest.
Eat something.
Thanks.
Can I say it?
Of course.
Betsy has a house.
A house?
For a school where children learn using the "Montessori method.
I came up with the name.
It sounds good.
The Montessori Method.
Dad...
That's your name.
It's also your name...
And you will make him famous.
My son...
I live for you.
Everything that happens is for you.
This is how it should be.
I have to leave you.
For your future...
For your happiness...
I am willing to endure anything.
That's my cross...
my struggle...
To win the rights of children.
That's fate...
the calling.
One day I come back...
And I give you everything...
my son.
For you the joy...
for me the hardships.
For 12 years, Maria Montessori did not see her son.
He was recognized by his father.
In 1907, she founded the first Casa dei Bambini.
The "Montessori method" became an immediate success.
Maria saw Mario again at 15. She introduced him as her nephew.
They became inseparable. He took her name.
Sofia - this is for you, thanks to you.
In memory of Shana DENIS PIRAINO