The Teacher from Vigevano

Il maestro di Vigevano, English title The Teacher from Vigevano, is a 1963 Italian comedy drama film directed by Elio Petri. It is based on the novel of the same name by.

Plot

Antonio Mombelli is a primary school teacher, married and father of a son. Although he is satisfied with his humble life and salary, his ambitious wife Ada pushes him to quit his job and open a small shoe factory with his severance pay. After his business' bankruptcy due to a tax investigation, Antonio takes a new exam to return to his teacher's job, but is devasteated to learn that Ada betrays him with local industrialist Bugatti.

Reception

The critical reception of The Teacher from Vigevano was mixed. Gianni Rondolino acknowledged Petri's portrayal of the locale, but criticised the film for repeatedly giving in to "the needs of mass entertainment" and "broad and simple tastes".