Movie Breakdown: The Life Ahead

Pre-Screening Stance:

The Life Ahead looks heavy, but I’m anxious to see it because of Sophia Loren. Her performance is being hailed as Oscar-worthy, which would be wild since the last nomination she got was way the heck back in 1964. That’s a span of 56 years! Also, another neat side note about this film is that it was directed by her son, Edoardo Ponti.

Post-Screening Ramble:

The Life Ahead is not an easy ride. Ibrahima Gueye is Momo (short for Mohammad), a street-smart preteen who essentially gets forced into the home of Madame Rosa (Sophia Loren), a former prostitute who now spends her days looking after kids that have no one else to look after them. Naturally, things get off to a rough start between the two of them, but it isn’t long before all the usual beats get hit here (i.e. Momo comes around, Rosa eases up, and so on and so forth). This is – clearly – not a film that packs any surprises and it’s often far more heavy-handed than it is deft with its subject matter, but it is a compelling affair on all sides. I really appreciated the way it’s littered with quiet, subtle moments, and also that it drives you to not only root for Momo and Rosa, but also everyone around them. Kudos to director Edoardo Ponti for crafting such a wonderfully layered film.

Yes, The Life Ahead is a story that’s been told time and time again, but nonetheless, it features powerhouse performances and it’s very well made. I definitely think you should check it out when it gets released on Netflix this Friday.

One Last Thought:

I get why everyone has been talking about Sophia Loren here, but an equal amount of praise should go to Ibrahima Gueye. He does a magnificent job of portraying a young man who is both indestructible and wholly vulnerable.