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5.4/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 5.4/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Seconda B remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you have a soft spot for vintage European cinema and don't mind a movie that feels like it was filmed in a library, you'll probably enjoy Seconda B. It’s light, it’s dated, and it has that specific, polite charm of early Italian comedies. If you need pacing, modern stakes, or characters who don’t act like they’re in a silent-era play, you’re going to hate it. This isn't a thriller like Dragnet Patrol; it’s basically just a series of hallway pranks.
The whole thing revolves around a teacher falling for the gymnastics instructor, which sounds like the setup for a much raunchier comedy than what we actually get. It’s sweet, almost painfully so. The students are the real engine here. They spend the entire runtime acting like tiny, organized saboteurs. It reminds me a bit of the chaos in The Hoosier Schoolmaster, just with more gym class.
There is a scene halfway through where the gymnastics teacher is trying to lead a class, and the students are so obviously trying to trip her up that it becomes funny just because of how bad they are at being subtle. The actors aren't trying to win Oscars. They’re just trying to keep the momentum going.
It doesn't have the grit of The Swamp, obviously. It doesn't really try to say anything profound about the human condition, and honestly, that’s a relief. Sometimes you just want to watch a teacher get embarrassed by a bunch of teenagers while everyone wears very uncomfortable-looking wool suits.
Is it a masterpiece? Hardly. Does it feel like a time capsule that someone left open in a dusty classroom? Absolutely. If you go in expecting a high-octane romp like Kill or Cure, you’ll be confused. But for a rainy afternoon? It’s fine. It’s just… fine. 🏫