An octogenarian former prostitute and Holocaust survivor (Sophia Loren) living in a seaside village in Italy struggles to care for an orphaned 12-year-old Senegalese immigrant (Ibrahima Gueye) after he’s entrusted to her by his overwhelmed guardian (Renato Carpentieri) who is also her doctor. Although unaware that the lad is working for a local drug lord (Massimiliano Rossi), she realizes that he needs a positive male role model and finds one in a Muslim rugmaker (Babak Karimi). Working in the latter’s shop, her charge learns about Islam and appears ready to make wiser decisions and choose better paths. Directed and co-written by Loren’s son, Edoardo Ponti, the drama, adapted from French author Romain Gary’s 1975 novel “The Life Before Us” (published under the penname Emile Ajar), boasts a strong aesthetic appeal and some positive themes. But these assets are offset by its benign treatment of transgenderism and, more gravely, its implicit approval of euthanasia. Misguided values, mature themes, including genocide, prostitution and drug trafficking, considerable crude language. The Catholic News Service classification is O — morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association rating is PG-13 — parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.
The Life Ahead
