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Poster for The Life Ahead

The Life Ahead

Seen it?

2020 | 94 min | Drama

Saturday Special

Why it’s a Saturday Special

It earned strong reviews (92% on Rotten Tomatoes) and it drew serious awards attention, despite soft box office. A strong pick for the weekend.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
Made for anyone who loves a strong drama. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
The mood
Harrowing.
The pace
Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 34 min.
What might put you off
  • Rated PG-13. Probably too much for younger kids.
  • It's in Italian, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
  • Audiences were cooler on it than critics.

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

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsStrong

    92% on Rotten Tomatoes, 66 on Metacritic

  • AudiencesSolid

    6.7 out of 10

  • AwardsStrong

    Won 1 Golden Globe: Golden Globe Awards: Best Original Song. Won 1 Critics' Choice Award: Critics' Choice Movie Awards: Best Actress in a Leading Role. Also nominated for 1 Oscar, 1 more Golden Globe and 4 more Critics' Choice Awards. Plus 9 other awards.

  • Reach & staying powerBelow par

    Streaming release that reached a modest audience; interest faded quickly after launch

  • Buzz & cultural impactBelow par

    About 39K people sought it out in the past year

Trailer

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Cast & crew

Directed by Edoardo Ponti

  • Sophia LorenMadame Rosa
  • Ibrahima GueyeMomo
  • Renato CarpentieriDr. Coen
  • Diego Iosif PirvuIosif
  • Massimiliano RossiRuspa
  • Abril ZamoraLola
  • Babak KarimiMr. Hamil
  • Malich CisséNala
  • Simone SuricoBabu
  • Nicola ValenzanoMolinari