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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

    Watch Now on Netflix
    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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    + 34
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    Top cast17

    Edit
    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

    6.815.9K
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    Featured reviews

    6Neon_Gold

    Really Good but Lacking Something

    I was really excited to watch this as it really seemed like the type of film i love. I was unfortunately a little disappointed.

    The movie looks great and it made me want to visit this gorgeous seaside town. Every scene has this warm, golden glow from the sun, it looks so good.

    The acting is also great too, both leads did a great job. I think they really help keep this film afloat because it has a mixture of different problems that weigh it down.

    I can't exactly put into words what it was missing but it just didn't fully click. It was a little bit surface level and i wanted to really get to know these characters and really feel the happiness and sadness that they feel. I didn't feel much of a connection between the two main characters. I wish they had jus done a little more to show us them bonding.

    I also think the score and soundtrack is really here, there and everywhere. It really effected the film for me and took me out of it. Some parts where subtle and melancholy but then it has these really modern songs blasting out and sometimes a different score playing that just seemed really out of place. I guess i wanted more of the sad, moody score.

    I think that describes what i wanted from the whole movie to be honest. I just wanted more emotions, more sadness, more happiness. Don't get me wrong the ending is pretty sad but i just think it would have had such a bigger pay off with more emotions before hand.

    I would definitely give it a watch as it looks great and the acting is as well. I don't know it just didn't click the way i was hoping it would.
    8macias31

    You gotta watch it!

    What a movie! Sophia Loren comes back from retirement to deliver an amazing performance... Gueye manages to make u remember the cruel reality where we live: immigrants, prostitutes, trans, abandoned children... From the performances, photography... it's entirely worth to watch it... ah! This is not a "happy meal box", it's a real piece of art... And Laura Pausini's song... oh! she does deserve an Oscar for that... suggestion... watch it Italian with subtitles in your language... you will miss a lot with the translations...
    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.
    yusufpiskin

    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.
    8faer_kr

    All it takes is love.

    An Italian drama. It is about a Muslim immigrant boy in the street who is taken to live with a retired prostitute who was a victim of the holocaust, making the meeting a moment of reflection in their lives. Quality. Raw Timeless Slightly parsimonious. Talk about love, empathy, charity, about belonging somewhere. About how hard life is for orphans and also for migrants, prompting them to do anything to survive. It even also shows how human beings sometimes live with fear and fear of being hurt that is why we put a huge barrier to others. The performances at the level. And it shows that, life itself. If you like dramas you will enjoy it. A drama that shows that the only thing a person sometimes needs is attention and love.

    '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)
    List

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    Storyline

    Edit

    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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