User reviews

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.

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.

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...

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.

The Life Ahead was a good return of legend Sophia Loren and it was nice to see her once again on the big screen but this entire film could be far better if it had some interesting story that would occupied me far better then this one did.Well story wasnt something completly awful but i had some bigger expectections from it but still it was fine for a one time watch.Characters werent so interesting but i didnt cared about such staff to much and more focused on great acting from Loren and young lead kid who give very good performance.The Life A head was a good one time watch

I was prompted to watch this movie by people that had watched it and told me I should not miss it.

When I read the credits and I learned that the movie was based in a book by Romain Gary I told myself nothing can go wrong. Well, I was wrong. The screen-play is terrible. It fails to provide any support for the story that develops in the film.

The movie is well filmed and well acted. What can you expect if Sophia Loren is on the movie!

Nice photography too. Unfortunately the screen-play is not up to the job and then it is difficult to sustain how the story develops. As a result nothing is credible. Too bad!

This is un update of my review. I was curious about what was missing in the movie. So I read the book by Romain Gary. Romain Gary's original story has nothing to do with this movie and it made plain clear to me why it fails to provide any support for the story that develops in the film. The movie not even present key scenes from the book. It is not easy, I recognize, to adapt a book that was written using a child language, because this is what the book does. But if you are willing to have an idea I recommend you to watch Madame Rosa. It is the original movie with Simone Signoret. You will see the difference. It is available on YouTube.

The eagerly awaited performance from Sofia Loren, was ruined for me by Netflix, dubbing the film with American accents. Why do they think audiences don't have the intelligence to read sub titles. Not hearing her speak in Neopolitan was a shame. Well acted but flawed

While 'The Life Ahead' refrains from fully exploring the potential issues that arise in the story with its simplistic plot and sentimental nature, director Edoardo Ponti provides a beautiful story of respect, understanding and love between unlikely mother and son. A snapshot of an unexpected friendship born of mutual pain. Sophia Lauren shines in a charismatic role and effortlessly creates a strong presence whose rugged exterior slowly evaporates to reveal vulnerability born of trauma.

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" is a remake of the 1977 film "Madame Rosa," which won that year's Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. I haven't seen the original so have nothing to compare this version to. But I do know that "The Life Ahead" is missing a spark that would have made it really good.

And though it pains me to say it, I think that spark is Sophia Loren. Loren plays a world weary former prostitute who takes in the children of other prostitutes and cares for them. Loren is lovely, and it's great to see her still working after such an illustrious career. But she seems too tired to make this movie work. There's a difference between a vibrant actress playing a tired character and a tired actress playing one, and that's the distinction that prevents "The Life Ahead" from ever really taking off.

There are nice and touching moments here and there, but mostly this film is a misfire.

Poor Diane Warren was nominated for her twelfth Oscar for writing this film's end credits song, but lost again. She's the Susan Lucci of the Academy Awards.

Grade: B-

The movie is an emotional tour de force, taking the audience through the trials of age, loss, loneliness, tragedy, respect, religion, friendship, and life.

Sophia Loren is captivating and she's surrounded by a strong, supporting cast.

Loren is superb as usual. This may be considered her last movie and her will. I hope she can earn a well deserved Oscar nomination for this role.

I became aware of the film because of Sophia Loren and only watched it for this reason. Normally, Italian realism doesn't suit me very well, but I was curious. You don't have to tell much about the content, such or similar stories already exist, of course, but how a friendship develops out of the very patient old lady Madame Rosa and the young Senegalese Momo is well told, but above all it is played very credibly. And the still unknown Ibrahima Gueye might still make a name for himself. Sophia Loren is, of course, a rock and manages with little means to draw a character that is always credible, human and comprehensible. That is her great art.

Both in cinema and in real life, the protagonists of The Life Ahead are very different with regard to age and fame. However, this difference is practically impossible to notice in relation to the quality of the excellent performance of each of the two.

Inspired by a novel written by Romain Gary, entitled "Life ahead," the work is the second film adaptation of the book and the first interpretation of actress Sophia Loren in many years.

Sophia Loren is a renowned Italian actress, winner of an Oscar award for her career rich in memorable performances. The movie star plays Madame Rosa, an elderly woman who worked in prostitution to support herself, and now, in her own home, takes care of the children of other women who have no one to leave their children with.

In addition to this long and already difficult journey, Madame Rosa faced, in her youth, one of the greatest crimes committed against humanity, the Holocaust.

As a Jewish survivor of the Holocaust, Madame Rosa has little prejudice in her life. Even so, at the beginning, he is very reluctant to promise to accept Momo's stay, played by the young Ibrahima Gueye.

Ibrahima is a newcomer in cinematographic productions, however, possessing an enormous charisma worthy of those who are already professionals in the field. In the role of Momo, a young Muslim refugee from Senegal who lives in the streets of Italy, the boy is under the care of a doctor unable to continue welcoming him.

After stealing and pushing the lady, Madame Rosa, young Momo has no idea that Dr. Cohen, the doctor who welcomes him, will successfully try to convince the young man while a new shelter and guardians are sought.

In a promise moved to financial compensation for the boy's care, Dr. Cohen signs Madame Rosa's acceptance of the services.

In this abrupt union of such divergent figures is the focus, the positive and negative points of the script.

In a work on the difficult and progressive relationship between an energetic street boy and an elderly Holocaust survivor, the production places little emphasis on each of these themes. In a single moment of the plot, exciting details, however, shallow details of the horror faced by Madame Rosa are exposed, and Momo, at that moment, does not seem to even know what the period is about.

Still having as main objective the creation of affinity and bonds of affection between the two figures, the development of the scenes did not contribute enough to subtly reinforce this difficult task between the characters. In 1 hour and 34 minutes, the film seems to run or be edited in such a way that, in one scene, the disaffection between the protagonists is expressive, and in the next, a forced relationship of empathy and acceptance emerges uniting the characters.

This brief cinematic cliché reduces what could be an excellent production. However, it does not reduce it enough to prevent us from feeling and sympathizing with the situation of those involved.

With deteriorations in Madame Rosa's state of health, the sad pact sealed between the new friends leads to striking and unusual journeys for the fulfillment of the promise and the attempt to keep the life and affection experienced by both of them permanent.

The Life Ahead fail to converge in a natural way for the beginning of the friendship between their very different characters, but it does not fail to do so in the continuity of the development of this relationship. In the same way, this beautiful production fails much less in the elegant and charismatic air of its interpretations, if not to say that it is impeccable in that fact.

Sophia Loren's first leading role in well over a decade is Directed by her son Edoardo Ponti (they also collaborated on a short film about 6 years back). Here, the screen legend plays Madame Rosa, an Italian Jew in a seaside village who is running an ad hoc orphanage of sorts out of her home. A Muslim teen boy, Momo (Ibrahima Gueye), is dropped in her care. There are two kids already staying with Rosa, both abandoned by prostitutes.

The collaborative screenplay (based on a novel) follows a mostly familiar path. Momo has been living the life of a street hood and tries to keep that secret from his new caregiver. Complications inevitably intrude and the movie becomes a sort of INTOUCHABLES/THE UPSIDE situation as Rosa's health deteriorates. Gueye has a natural screen presence despite his age and inexperience as Momo, but, it is Loren who carries the movie. The screen legend delivers a performance of grace and tenacity, that is vigorous despite her age (86). Ponti shows some promise as a Director, but he knows well enough to allow his mother to carry the burden.

Bad direction and terrible narration, the movie forgets of very important elements. The movie is predictable, and the only good point of the movie is the good development of the relationships between the characters.

A simple enough film to watch, that showcases the remarkable talents of Sophia Loren and newcomer Ibrahima Gueye. They had excellent chemistry and helped make the film both feel heartfelt and genuine - despite some of the emotional manipulation going on.

It felt like a slow film, but one that kind of drew me in as it went on. It creeps up on you in that regard. Despite the tenderness and heartache on display, I still somehow found myself a bit emotionally disengaged. I don't know whether it was the pacing or the "I've seen something like this before" aspect of things.

Despite some downfalls, it's a film with a lot of heart and great to see Sophia Loren still at the top of her game age 86. May also now have a crush on Abril Zamora who was great and immensely likeable in her supporting role of Lola.

The Life Ahead made me smile, and in a year like this, that is worth its weight in gold.

I checked on this movie after reading an article on NYT about Ms. Sophia Loren - an exemplary actress. I wasn't prepared for how emotional this movie will make me. I bawled several times while watching and it actually made me contemplate my latter years. Phenomenal acting by all (Madam Rosa, Momo, Lola ). I'll remember this movie for years to come. Please watch it in Italian then subtitle in your language . You won't regret it !!

My Review - The Life Ahead La vita davanti a sè My Rating 7.5 /10

In "The Life Ahead," Sophia Loren's third collaboration with son Edoardo Ponti, she plays an Italian Holocaust survivor known as Madame Rosa who takes in and eventually bonds with a Senegalese orphan, Momo (Ibrahima Gueye). Like many Netflix funded productions, it was originally intended for this film to be given a limited theatrical run a few weeks before its Netflix debut, in order to make it eligible for awards season and to generate publicity in the press. However that plan had to be abandoned because of the Covid-19 pandemic of 2020, and the film went straight to streaming instead. This film is Sophia Loren's first acting role since 2010 the star, now 86, was looking for a personal connection to a script. Then along came her director son and the Netflix drama "The Life Ahead." This film is actually a remake of the 1977 famous French film Madame Rosa that starred Simone Signoret this time Sophia Loren is cast as Madame Rosa a retired prostitute who happens to be a Jewish holocaust survivor living in a modest apartment in the seaside Italian town of Bari in the Apulia region, on the Adriatic Sea, in southern Italy. While Sophia Loren is brilliant in the role I think the grittier black and white French film is superior. I was so impressed with Miss Loren's performance it's a brave woman who is so relaxed and confident of her talent to appear with little makeup or any of the glamorous trappings that crowned her one of the most beautiful women on earth. Sophia Loren filmed this movie (under Covid-19 restrictions between the scenes) in Italian. But, the English-dubbed version was also recorded by Loren. The interesting fact to me that her elegance and beauty till shines through even though Sophia Loren is obviously now a much older woman ,especially in this film where she plays a tired unwell ex hooker who has fostered many of the children of her working colleagues . The trauma and horrible experiences that Rosa endured during her internment during the War are obvious and haunt her still. The Senegalese orphan, Momo (Ibrahima Gueye) who also gives a wonderful performance that Madame Rosa reluctantly takes into her home has attitude plus and on a path to crime eventually realises that this crusty old lady has his best interest at heart . These are the scenes I loved in this movie the naive streetwise teen hustler versus the world weary wisdom and affection of a woman who has experienced life and survived its cruel reality. I wish I'd have seen this film in a Cinema first as I think it would be a better experience on the big screen ,hopefully one day it will be released as it was intended to be seen. Personally it's one movie I would have liked to be longer than 1:34 minutes as I wanted to know more about Madame Rosa and Momo's past life but it's Director Edoardo Ponti has done his mother proud and vice versa.l This is not one of those movies where you see a great Star coming out of retirement to make a movie then after you watch it say "Why did she do it?" Sophia Loren did this film because she's still a fine actress,

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.

The plot is decent and the acting is excellent; I recommend it if you are a fan of Sophia Loren.

An old ill ex prostitute and holocaust survivor after several dramatic situations bond with a young orphan immigrant whose present is poied between loneliness and delinquency. Doesn't it seems too much? Yes and it really is. Too much for one movie and definitely too much for Edoardo Ponti to handle. His direction struggles to deal with this amount of themes and it eventually shows his inexperience. Every character is artificial, every dialog is contrived and every scenes is forced, pushed harder and harder trying, almost desperately, to move the audience, to manipulate their emotions. Yes manipulate, Ponti doesn't try to move with his ability to direct and shoot but by dramatic situations stacked one above the other and hastily connected, by a rigid editing, exploiting the reality behind them. Even the acting, even Sophia Loren's (and this really hurts to say), are mediocre.