Maria Montessori

At the turn of the 20th century, Lili d’Alengy (Leïla Bekhti), a famous Parisian courtesan and darling of the Parisian cabaret scene has a shameful secret – a daughter with a disability, Tina, whom she must hide to protect her career. Unwilling and unable to care for Tina, Lili decides to leave Paris for Rome. In Rome, Lili seeks help from Maria Montessori (Jasmine Trinca, SUPERHEROES IFF22, THE GODDESS OF FORTUNE IFF20), a doctor who is developing a revolutionary teaching method for children. But Maria also has a secret – a child born out of wedlock, and soon she will be forced to choose between her career and her child. Together, the two women will help each other to find their place in the world and establish a new vision of education. An illuminating debut feature film from Léa Todorov, MARIA MONTESSORI explores difference, education, feminism, and the beginnings of the Montessori approach, used today in 35,000 Montessori schools across the globe.

A writer, director and producer, Léa Todorov was born in Paris in 1982. After studying political sciences in Paris, Vienna and Berlin, she began working as an assistant director in documentaries. She has directed two documentaries and collaborated on several more as a writer and producer. Maria Montessori is her debut feature film.