Studying to become a teacher in 1950s Northern Italy, Sicilian immigrant Pietro is joined by his big brother Giovanni. Pietro shows considerable promise in his field, prompting illiterate Giovanni to take on even the toughest jobs in order to support his sibling's academic pursuits.
| Directing | Gianni Amelio | Director |
| Production | Vittorio Cecchi Gori | Producer |
| Production | Rita Rusić | Producer |
| Writing | Gianni Amelio | Writer |
| Camera | Luca Bigazzi | Director of Photography |
| Production | Mario Cotone | Executive Producer |
| Editing | Simona Paggi | Editor |
| Sound | Franco Piersanti | Original Music Composer |
| Art | Giancarlo Basili | Production Design |
| Art | Nello Giorgetti | Set Decoration |
| Costume & Make-Up | Gianna Gissi | Costume Design |
| Sound | Alessandro Zanon | Sound |
| Sound | Benni Atria | Sound Editor |
| Writing | Lillo Iacolino | Co-Writer |
| Writing | Alberto Taraglio | Co-Writer |
| Writing | Laura Pariani | Co-Writer |
| Writing | Daniele Gaglianone | Co-Writer |
| Crew | Luan Amelio Ujkaj | Thanks |
| Production | Fulvio Rossi | Unit Production Manager |
| Production | Olivia Sleiter | Unit Production Manager |
| Production | Ladis Zanini | Line Producer |
| Production | Ljerka Rusić | Supervising Producer |
| Directing | Melissa Strizzi | Script Supervisor |
| Production | Emanuela Riganelli | Production Secretary |
| Production | Fernanda Selvaggi | Production Secretary |
| Production | Stefano Benappi | Production Secretary |
| Production | Enrico Sollazzo | Production Secretary |
| Production | Diego Gazzano | Production Coordinator |
| Production | Silvia Ranfagni | Production Coordinator |
| Production | Franco Fantini | Administration |
| Production | Marina Grappelli | Administration |
| Production | Giulia Saccucci | Administration |
| Production | Alessandro Fiorito | Accountant |
| Crew | Maria Vittoria Filipponi | Administrative Assistant |
| Crew | Enrico Cavallaro | Administrative Assistant |
| Art | Francesca Bocca | Assistant Set Decoration |
| Art | Diego Giorgetti | Assistant Set Decoration |
| Art | Valentina Ferroni | Assistant Production Design |
| Art | Livia Tesla | Assistant Production Design |
| Art | Stefano Olivieri | Property Master |
| Art | Luciano Magagnini | Property Master |
| Camera | Stefano Falivene | First Assistant Camera |
| Camera | Salvatore Bognanni | Second Assistant Camera |
| Camera | Claudio Iannone | Still Photographer |
| Sound | Angelo Amatulli | Boom Operator |
| Directing | Lorella Chiapatti | Second Assistant Director |
| Directing | Luigi Palmulli | Second Assistant Director |
| Camera | Alessandro Abate | "B" Camera Operator |
| Camera | Roberto Rinalduzzi | Additional First Assistant Camera |
| Directing | Elisabetta Boni | First Assistant Director |
| Directing | Enzo Di Terlizzi | First Assistant Director |
| Directing | Gianluca Greco | First Assistant Director |
| Directing | Lidia Biondi | First Assistant Director |
| Costume & Make-Up | Simonetta Antonucci | Assistant Costume Designer |
| Costume & Make-Up | Cristina Da Rold | Assistant Costume Designer |
| Costume & Make-Up | Giuseppina Mizioli | Seamstress |
| Costume & Make-Up | Sergio Forcina | Seamstress |
| Costume & Make-Up | Angela Anzimani | Seamstress |
| Costume & Make-Up | Alma Barbieri | Seamstress |
| Costume & Make-Up | Alberto Blasi | Makeup Department Head |
| Costume & Make-Up | Giulio Pezza | Makeup Artist |
| Costume & Make-Up | Ferdinando Merolla | Hair Department Head |
| Costume & Make-Up | Maria Gerolama Sale | Hairstylist |
| Camera | Eraldo Barbona | Key Grip |
| Camera | Patrizio Marra | Grip |
| Camera | Massimo Spina | Grip |
| Camera | Roberto Barbona | Grip |
| Lighting | Alessandro Saulini | Gaffer |
| Lighting | Massimiliano Sticchi | Electrician |
| Lighting | Francesco Galli | Electrician |
| Crew | Paolo Ricci | Special Effects |
| Crew | Luca Ricci | Special Effects |
| Editing | Maddalena Colombo | Assistant Editor |
| Editing | Patrizia Ceresani | Assistant Editor |
| Sound | Alberto Doni | Sound Mixer |
| Sound | Fernando Caso | Sound Effects |
| Sound | Alvaro Gramigna | Sound Effects |
| Crew | Adolfo Onorati | Generator Operator |
| Crew | Leonardo Balestrini | Generator Operator |
| Crew | Giorgio Vecchi | Machinist |
| Editing | Pasquale Cuzzupoli | Colorist |
| Sound | Federico Savina | Dolby Consultant |