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'The Life Ahead': Release date, plot, cast and all you need to know about Netflix's drama starring Oscar winner Sophia Loren

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

BY ANOUSH GOMES

PUBLISHED OCT 20, 2020

'The Life Ahead', an upcoming Netflix film, is based on the book titled 'The Life Before Us' by author Romain Gary. Starring Oscar winner Sophia Loren, it chronicles a story of a Holocaust survivor who establishes a bond with a young boy named Momo, who is an immigrant from Senegal. This is not the first film adaptation of the book. In 1977, a movie titled 'Madame Rosa' saw Simone Signoret play the titular role. Here is what you need to know about directors Edoardo Ponti's adaptation of the amazing novel.

Release date

'The Life Ahead' releases on November 13, 2020.

Plot

Netflix's official plotline reads: "In seaside Italy, a Holocaust survivor with a daycare business (Oscar winner Sophia Loren) takes in a 12-year-old street kid who recently robbed her."

Deadline further speaks of the plot outlining that "Madame Rosa, a Jewish survivor of the Holocaust who now makes a meager living raising a number of children of prostitutes with whom she once walked the streets. Among those she takes in is Momo, a 12-year-old Senegalese orphan who steals her candlesticks. After he is forced to apologize, they form a relationship audiences around the world are not likely to soon forget."

Cast

Sophia Loren as Madame Rosa

Loren is an actress known for her roles as Antonietta Taberi in 'A Special Day' (1977), Cesira in 'Two Women' (1960), Yasmin Azir in 'Arabesque' (1966) and Filumena Marturano in 'Marriage Italian Style' (1964). The popular actress has been seen in many stellar works such as 'The Pride and the Passion', 'Houseboat' and 'It Started in Naples'. In 1965 Loren was nominated for an Oscar for Best Actress in a Leading Role for 'Matrimonio all'italiana' (1964) but in 1962 she was an Oscar for 'La ciociara' aka 'Two Women' for Best Actress in a Leading Role. This made her the first actor to win an Academy Award for a foreign language film.

The actress has also won a Cecil B DeMille Award in 1995 and four Henrietta Award's in 1977, 1969, 1965 and 1964. Loren also holds the record of winning 6 David di Donatello Awards for Best Actress for 'Una giornata particolare' (1977), 'Il viaggio' (1974), 'I girasoli' (1970), 'Matrimonio all'italiana' (1964), 'Ieri oggi domani' (1963) and 'La ciociara'.

The rest of the cast includes Abril Zamora, Babak Karimi, Renato Carpentieri, Massimiliano Rossi, Ibrahima Gueye as Momo and Francesco Cassano as Carabiniere.

Creators

The movie is directed by writer Edoardo Ponti with Ugo Chiti, Romain Gary and Fabio Natale serving as writers. Patrizia Massa serves as executive producer. Marco Camilli, Davide Nardini and Pinto serve as associate producers. Carlo Degli Esposti and Nicola Serra serve as producers.