Sophia Loren's first leading role in well over a decade is Directed by her son Edoardo Ponti (they also collaborated on a short film about 6 years back). Here, the screen legend plays Madame Rosa, an Italian Jew in a seaside village who is running an ad hoc orphanage of sorts out of her home. A Muslim teen boy, Momo (Ibrahima Gueye), is dropped in her care. There are two kids already staying with Rosa, both abandoned by prostitutes.
The collaborative screenplay (based on a novel) follows a mostly familiar path. Momo has been living the life of a street hood and tries to keep that secret from his new caregiver. Complications inevitably intrude and the movie becomes a sort of INTOUCHABLES/THE UPSIDE situation as Rosa's health deteriorates. Gueye has a natural screen presence despite his age and inexperience as Momo, but, it is Loren who carries the movie. The screen legend delivers a performance of grace and tenacity, that is vigorous despite her age (86). Ponti shows some promise as a Director, but he knows well enough to allow his mother to carry the burden.
The collaborative screenplay (based on a novel) follows a mostly familiar path. Momo has been living the life of a street hood and tries to keep that secret from his new caregiver. Complications inevitably intrude and the movie becomes a sort of INTOUCHABLES/THE UPSIDE situation as Rosa's health deteriorates. Gueye has a natural screen presence despite his age and inexperience as Momo, but, it is Loren who carries the movie. The screen legend delivers a performance of grace and tenacity, that is vigorous despite her age (86). Ponti shows some promise as a Director, but he knows well enough to allow his mother to carry the burden.