Synopsis:

Rome, 1892. A young woman stands in front of an important building. She looks at it for a moment, then enters, with decision, disregarding bystanders’ mocking looks. This is the first time a woman enters Rome’s Medical School as a student; her name is Maria Montessori. Her life at the faculty is not easy. To be accepted she must be better than the rest, she must never show signs of weakness.
One day, during a psychiatry lesson, Maria realizes that she shall follow this path, as here science studies the man and not just the body.
During the psychiatry lessons she meets a young and fascinating professor, Giuseppe Montesano.
Maria starts working with him on a project to help retarded and abandoned children. Maria puts passion and sensitivity into her work, while passion between Maria and Giuseppe grows. They are careful not to make their relationship public, as scandal should be avoided.
Now a Doctor, Maria pursues pedagogy to be able to help the children in her project. She understands that through the senses she can teach children, even those with serious learning disabilities, to read, write and count. Results are amazing then, shockingly, Maria finds out to be pregnant. Giuseppe, who seemed to love her, suddenly changes. Maria wants to keep the child at all costs but Giuseppe decides to marry another woman, even if he is willing to give the child his surname. The baby, now a Montesano, is given in custody to another family, where Maria will be allowed to see him only if she will keep the secret. Maria, hurt and defeated, starts a new life. She teaches at the Superior Institute for Education and there she will diffuse her schooling theories: where children will not be punished but helped to develop their natural skills. She will later on open the first “House for Children”, and accomplish her famous method.
Through the observation of children, education evolves: children find themselves, almost effortlessly, literate and self-sufficient. The “House For Children” starts receiving visitors from all over the world and new schools are founded following its model. However, her teaching method will have a hard time in Italy. At first, Maria will compromise with the fascist government, to be able to spread her ideas around the Country. This will not last long, as a dictatorship is not the best setting to the making of free individuals. Maria will continue fighting for her ideas and fighting the paradox of her life: she was allowed to help children of all kinds, but was unable to raise her own child. Maria Montessori was nominated thrice for the Nobel Peace Prize (1949,1950,1951) and awarded the French Cross of the Legion of Honor in 1949.