THE STORY – Late 1980s. Summer. Thirteen-year-old Felice, shouldering all his father’s expectations, after years of hard training and strict rules, finally gets to compete in national tennis tournaments. To best prepare him, his father entrusts him to self-styled former champion Raul Gatti, who even boasts a round-of-16 appearance at the Internazionali d’Italia tennis tournament at the Foro Italico. From match to match, the two begin a journey along the Italian coast that, amidst defeats, lies, and bizarre encounters, will lead Felice to discover the taste of freedom and Raul to glimpse the possibility of a new beginning. An unexpected, profound, and unique bond develops between the two, like certain summers, which only come once.
THE CAST – Pierfrancesco Favino, Tiziano Menichelli, Giovanni Ludeno, Dora Romano, Valentina Bellè, Astrid Meloni, Chiara Bassermann, Paolo Briguglia, Roberto Zibetti, Fabrizio Careddu & Edwige Fenech
THE TEAM – Andrea Di Stefano (Director/Writer) & Ludovica Rampoldi (Writer)
THE RUNNING TIME – 125 Minutes
Already an established actor in his native Italy and abroad, with credits that include films by Marco Bellocchio, Dario Argento, and Ang Lee’s “Life of Pi,” Andrea Di Stefano made an international name for himself as a director with his 2014 debut “Escobar: Paradise Lost,” starring Benicio del Toro. He followed that with another English-language thriller, “The Informer,” in 2019 before returning to Italy for the stylish cop drama “Last Night of Amore,” set in the shadowy corners of Milan. That collaboration with local star Pierfrancesco Favino laid the groundwork for their reunion in “My Tennis Maestro.” It marks a departure for Di Stefano, moving away from gangsters and corrupt cops into the world of sports. While it never achieves the formal bravura of Luca Guadagnino’s “Challengers” in its match sequences, it delivers a heartfelt comedy-drama about connection and resilience in a competitive and stressful arena.
Favino plays Raul Gatti, a former professional tennis player and self-proclaimed champion, now giving private lessons. His path crosses with 13-year-old Felice (Tiziano Menichelli, who made an impressive debut in 2023’s “My Summer with the Shark”), whose father has trained him using a purely defensive strategy inspired by Sun Tzu’s “The Art of War.” The approach has worked in regional tournaments, but with national competition looming, Raul takes Felice across Italy, beginning in Liguria.
The dynamic between them is far from smooth. Felice has been raised on strict discipline and obedience, while Raul lives freely, indulging his pleasures and basking in the attention of women who still find him irresistible. He quickly realizes, however, that Felice needs more than rigid defense if he hopes to succeed at a higher level.
Hints of autobiography appear early, signaled by the cheeky opening title card: “Any resemblance to actual persons or events is purely coincidental. Got it, Dad?” The tone is set in the very first scene, as Gatti places a personal ad and shamelessly flirts with the woman on the other end of the phone. It’s a terrific showcase for Favino, an actor best known for his intensity, who revels in the chance to exercise his comedic instincts after a run of dramatic roles in projects like “Enzo” and “The Count of Monte Cristo.” The film is often quite funny, although some culturally specific humor, such as a particular needle-drop gag, may be lost on audiences unfamiliar with Italian pop culture.
About midway through, the story takes a more poignant turn, revealing that Raul’s carefree persona conceals deeper wounds. What begins as Felice’s coming-of-age journey gradually becomes Raul’s as well, giving Favino the chance to explore the vulnerability beneath his charm. Menichelli, meanwhile, continues to shine with a performance that displays astonishing maturity and emotional range for his age.
The rapport between the two leads unfolds with the precision of a tennis match, their true battle being psychological rather than physical. The 1980s setting, suggested through details like pay phones and references to Ivan Lendl, who retired in 1994, takes on a bittersweet quality. A highlight for Italian audiences will be the appearance of Edwige Fenech, the cult star of 1970s and ’80s erotic comedies, now reemerging in more serious roles. She brings unexpected gravitas to a pivotal and somber moment in the story.
Over its two-hour runtime, the film rises and falls like a professional match, with moments of both high tension and reflective calm. By the end, the bond between Raul and Felice feels genuine and earned, capped off by Di Stefano’s perfectly playful final shot before the credits roll. “My Tennis Maestro” may not reinvent the genre, but it proves to be a charming, moving portrait of mentorship, growth, and the unexpected lessons we find in one another.
