A teacher discovers his calling. Marco relocates to Palermo from Milan and takes a job teaching in a reform school while he waits for a high school position. He tries to understand and motivate his handful of students, reading them colloquial poetry, encouraging them to stand up for their rights, finding out about their histories. Natale, in for murder, enamoured of the Mafia, the King Rat within the group; Mery, a drag queen, arrested for assault when defending himself, in love with Mario and, in daylight, rejected by all; Pietro, illiterate, muscular, believing his destiny is set; the callow Claudio, vulnerable, learning to harden himself. What can Mario learn and do in such a short time?
Director:
Michele Placido
Marco Terzi
Claudio Amendola
Pietro Giancona
Francesco Benigno
Natale Sperandeo
Alessandra Di Sanzo
Mario 'Mery' Libassi
Tony Sperandeo
Turris
Roberto Mariano
Antonio Patanè
Maurizio Prollo
Claudio Catalano
Filippo Genzardi
Matteo Mondello
Giovanni Alamia
Marra
Alfredo Li Bassi
Carmelo Vella
Salvatore Termini
Giovanni 'King Kong' Trapani
Gianluca Favilla
Rosaspina Prison Director
Giuseppe Giarraffa
Carmelo's Brother
Michela Cusano
Lia
Matteo Mondello
Maria Cristina Mastrangeli
Rosaspina Prison Teacher
Calogero Buttà
Rosaspina Prison Teacher
Luigi Maria Burruano
Franco D'Annino
Ninni Picone
Announcer
Aurora Quattrocchi
Mery's Mother
Ludovico Caldarera
Unemployed Teacher #2 (uncredited)
Carlo Berretta
Salvatore 'Salvo' Sperandeo (uncredited)
Carlo DeFilippi
Inmate (uncredited)
Enzo Marcelli
Inmate (uncredited)
Pippo Agusta
Mery's Father (uncredited)
Paolo Buzzurro
Policeman (uncredited)
Tatu La Vecchia
Policeman Arresting Pietro (uncredited)
Angelo Prollo
Rosaspina Prison Warden (uncredited)
Giovanni Corrao
Police Detective (uncredited)
