There is a clear reason to watch "The Life Ahead", for those who appreciate cinematic history and especially, Sophia Loren. Still great at the age of 86, starring in this Italian-language film, directed by her son, Edoardo Ponti.
The film premiered on Netflix on November 13. Ponti and writer Ugo Chiti adapted the film from Romain Gary's novel "The Life Before Us". Here Loren plays the character of this title, a Holocaust survivor who takes the children of prostitutes in the Italian city, Bari, becomes an important influence for a Senegalese orphan, named Momo (Ibrahima Gueye) who temporarily moves with him. By selling drugs to a local trader, he desperately needs some positive impact on his life.
Yet it is Loren who commands the screen, the failure of health and the painful memories of the ordeal she experienced in her youth. In interviews, Loren - whose last on-screen appearance was a little over a decade ago - has stated that she brought the project to her son, with whom she has worked on two previous films, saying Madame Rosa is a great character that suited him quite well.
According to The Guardian, Loren's performance could put her in the running for Best Actress at the 2021 Oscars. If it really happens, the 86-year-old could become the oldest nominee for 'Academy Next Actress'.
