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The Life Ahead

Original title: La vita davanti a sé
  • 2020
  • PG-13
  • 1h 34m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
16K
YOUR RATING
Sophia Loren in The Life Ahead (2020)
In seaside Italy, a Holocaust survivor with a daycare business takes in a 12-year-old street kid who recently robbed her.
Play trailer0:31
3 Videos
40 Photos
Drama

In seaside Italy, a Holocaust survivor with a daycare business takes in a 12-year-old street kid who recently robbed her.In seaside Italy, a Holocaust survivor with a daycare business takes in a 12-year-old street kid who recently robbed her.In seaside Italy, a Holocaust survivor with a daycare business takes in a 12-year-old street kid who recently robbed her.

  • Director
    • Edoardo Ponti
  • Writers
    • Ugo Chiti
    • Romain Gary
    • Fabio Natale
  • Stars
    • Sophia Loren
    • Ibrahima Gueye
    • Renato Carpentieri
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.8/10
    16K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Edoardo Ponti
    • Writers
      • Ugo Chiti
      • Romain Gary
      • Fabio Natale
    • Stars
      • Sophia Loren
      • Ibrahima Gueye
      • Renato Carpentieri
    • 121User reviews
    • 96Critic reviews
    • 66Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 14 wins & 36 nominations total

    Videos3

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    Trailer 0:31
    Watch Now on Netflix
    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:21
    Official Trailer
    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:21
    Official Trailer
    The Life Ahead
    Trailer 2:21
    The Life Ahead

    Photos40

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    Top cast17

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    Sophia Loren
    Sophia Loren
    • Madame Rosa
    Ibrahima Gueye
    Ibrahima Gueye
    • Momo
    Renato Carpentieri
    Renato Carpentieri
    • Dr. Coen
    Iosif Diego Pirvu
    • Iosif
    Massimiliano Rossi
    Massimiliano Rossi
    • Spacciatore
    Abril Zamora
    Abril Zamora
    • Lola
    Babak Karimi
    Babak Karimi
    • Hamil
    Malich Cissé
    • Nala
    Vittoria Loiacono
    • Donna Ospedale
    Cesare Pastanella
    • Musicista
    Costanta Fana Pirvu
    • Madre di Iosif
    Rav Mario Sonnino
    • Rabbino
    Simone Surico
    • Babu
    Nicola Valenzano
    • Molinari
    Francesco Cassano
    • Carabiniere
    Luca De Massis
    • Poliziotto
    Anouar H. Smaine
    Anouar H. Smaine
    • Moussa
    • Director
      • Edoardo Ponti
    • Writers
      • Ugo Chiti
      • Romain Gary
      • Fabio Natale
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews121

    6.816K
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    Featured reviews

    JohnDeSando

    Loren is as vital and sharp as ever.

    Although Sophia Loren has played too many parts to recount in her 86 years, The Life Ahead is probably as close as she will get to depicting an aging, caring senior who is about ready to leave permanently. The good deeds she, Madame Rosa, has done for others, especially youngsters, travel with her as we see how she guides her latest waif, 12-year-old Momo (Ibrahima Guye) from thief and dealer to loving child for an old lady.

    While this premise may sound maudlin, it is not. Directed by her son, Eduardo Ponti, this melodrama with thriller touches is all about Momo finding love and connection and Rosa coming to terms with her Holocaust memories while doing her best good deeds at the end of her life. The screen has a few touching minor characters like Dr. Coen, who attends to Rosa also as a friend, and Lola (Abril Zamora), a transgender caregiver who shares affection with her dear old friend.

    The Life Ahead is restrained with few high moments. Rather, small interactions lead to our seeing the good in every life, even those of which we don't approve. Rosa is a former hooker, about whom one couldn't harbor criticism or disdain. Like her friends, Lola gives succor when she can, indulges regrets when they come, and searches for love right to the end of the film.

    She is "good" just as she tells Momo he is. And that's enough.
    8safathm

    Infinite talent Loren

    It was an indescribable joy to watch the great star who became more and more beautiful like wine over the years. I just revere...
    8kosmasp

    beyond beauty

    When Sophia Loren was younger she could rely on her beauty - but even back then I would argue that you could tell that there was more to her than just her looks. Obviously beauty is in the eye of the beholder and some may not thought of her as beautiful for personal reasons. That aside though, she has aged very beautiful and she is still stunning looking.

    Now some may already have given up on me or this review for it being too focused on her looks. But to deny that or not mention it at all, would be a disservice to what she stood for and what people thought of her. It would also be missing the point that you might have been blinded by that exterior and miss her acting talent! She plays so wonderfully here, I would hope she continues to make more movies ... because while others retain a certain vanity even after a certain age, she seems completely free of that, which makes her and her performance even more amazing! I think the Oscars came knocking ... I would not be surprised ...
    8yusufpiskin

    And the Oscar Goes To...

    The Life Ahead will capture your heart while modeling what an ideal world would look like if we could all understand each other and get along.

    What better way to show your mother love than to direct her in likely her final film performance,. The Life Ahead IMHO is her most befitting role as Earth Mother. Sophia Loren is so beautifully moving and astounding in a role that was created back in 1978's French film Madame Rosa with the legendary Simone Signoret. Signoret's interpretation of Rosa earned her accolades across the world's film communities.

    It being 2020 the year of COVID, and the festival circuits are either virtual or all together cancelled, the star spotlight will be very different for actors whom deserve to shine. With this film it is truly tragic that the film community will miss out on the stunning presence of Miss Loren. At 86 Miss Loren is not the true lead in the film, but it is Ibrahima Gueye, who at 14 whom plays a street tough whom Rosa takes into her care. These two performances make a very simple film into a fitting tribute to love and the resiliency of the two leads characters.

    I will say if the Academy was truly worthy of its accolades after giving Parasite the best film honors, it will honor both stars with statuettes come this winter in Hollywood. Loren is truly spectacular to behold as a once great beauty and the "mother" and "caretaker" of the children of the women of the night, as she slowly succumbs to the ravages of dementia. In her scenes of her withdraws Lorens facial expressions and those eyes tell of a back story we only can imagine from her faded numbers on her left forearm. With the arrival of Momo ( Gueye) Rosa's life begins to become more fulfilling again, and the two start off as adversaries, and the end their love is truly etched in each other's hearts.

    NETFLIX has possibly one of the contentions for this years Best Picture Nominations with this ( as well as Mank) and hopefully a son's gift of Oscar to Miss Loren's heartbreaking performance that will easily be compared to her first Oscar win in Two Women. It may be an Oscar win as well for 14 year old Gueye in a magnificent turn as the street tough Momo who allows the kindness of Rosa to value his life ahead.
    9AJ_McAninch

    Sophia and Ibrahima

    Sophia Loren at 86 has returned to us along with her Co-Star Ibrahima Gueye in her son's film. Though the film is a re-make and the story rather predictable, what is not is the performance of these two actors. The cast is good, but the leads are on a different level. And their final scenes together are deeply moving. I have never seen Ms Loren more touching and filled with grace, nor a 12-year-old boy more beautiful and talented. Sophia has given us a gift in both the film and this young actor whose future is so brilliant.

    'The Life Ahead': Behind the Scenes With Edoardo Ponti

    'The Life Ahead': Behind the Scenes With Edoardo Ponti

    The Life Ahead director Edoardo Ponti details some of his favorite moments on set with his mother, Sophia Loren.
    See the gallery
    Sophia Loren and Edoardo Ponti in The Life Ahead (2020)
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    Storyline

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    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Sophia Loren dubbed herself in the English version.
    • Quotes

      Hamil: Momo. Use your words. Language is the greatest weapon. There's no need to stick a pencil in someone's throat.

    • Connections
      Referenced in AniMat's Crazy Cartoon Cast: Internet Outrage and the Award Stage (2021)
    • Soundtracks
      Io sì (Seen)
      Written by Diane Warren, Laura Pausini and Niccolò Agliardi

      Performed by Laura Pausini

      Arrangement by David Campbell

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    FAQ17

    • How long is The Life Ahead?Powered by Alexa
    • Where was the movie filmed?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 13, 2020 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • Italy
    • Official site
      • Official site
    • Languages
      • Italian
      • Spanish
      • Hebrew
      • Romanian
    • Also known as
      • Усе життя попереду
    • Filming locations
      • Bari, Puglia, Italy
    • Production companies
      • Artemis Rising Foundation
      • Macaia Film
      • Palomar
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 34 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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