There's Still Tomorrow

This is a masterpiece, a surprise because unexpected. Brilliant story based on true events, but full of symbolisms and deeper meanings that are all connected on the final scenes of the movie. Great directing and acting by Cortelesi, but also great choice of the characters and performancefrom the other actors. The women's universe in Italy back then was complicated and the road to the recognition of their rights was full of obstacles, with many dramatic stories happening. The movie manages also to be ironic and there are moments you laugh. Then suddenly it becomes dramatic again and you want to cry. Then you bacome angry. All these fluctuations are captivating, meanwhile represent the reason why Paola manages to give a powerful message through the art of cinema.

A saga of domestic abuse and deeply rooted misogyny and somewhat a celebration of female empowerment. Did not expect the ending, I was hoping for something grander for Delia's disobedience, but this goes to show how significant it was at the time.

There is also some humour here and there, but I have to say putting a musical number over a scene of spousal abuse kind of has the opposite effect. It makes light of something awful and I cringed watching it. Or maybe that was also by design, who knows. It's certainly uncomfortable.

The opening scene sure sets the tone and it only gets worse from there. Up to hearing don Ottorino advise his son on how to effectively discipline his wife. Initially I thought he was advocating for her, but no. And then Giulio showing his true colours and Marcella refusing to see it and you can feel Delia's whole being shuddering.

I did not feel like watching an old (style) movie, and this is I imagine the reason why they chose back and white, but the actors' performances make it come to light.

This movie is perfect in so many ways and I hope it will win everything it can win, from the bottom of my heart. I haven't seen such a beautiful Italian movie in so long. And to think it's Paola Cortellesi's first movie as a director and co-writer makes it even more special.

It is amazingly written, directed and acted. It's brave, powerful, original and you NEED to watch it. It tells a dramatic story with bittersweet tones, keeping it extremely real and revolutionary.

I am Italian so I could obviously understand all the homages and nuances, however I am sure an international audience will appreciate this little gem in a whole.

Go watch it and you won't regret that.

I will start by saying that I really love Paola Cortellesi, she is one of the finest Italian actresses of these times, capable of offering the greatest laughs and the most bitter tears, thanks to her versatile acting skills.

This happens throughout this film too. She is Delia, a middle-aged woman who lives with her husband, three children and her nasty father-in-law in terribly harsh conditions. She struggles to make ends meet and to sustain her family, while suffering domestic abuse and dreaming of a past love. When her daughter gets engaged to the son of the local café owner, she senses that her she risks embarking in a life of strain and violence, just like hers.

I loved the performances in this film: Paola Cortellesi, Vittorio Mastandrea (one of my favourite actors), Giorgio Colangeli and Emanuela Fanelli. The use of black and white was clever, as it gives the film a poetic look. I also appreciated the bittersweet scenes: tragedy mixed with comedy.

Nevertheless I wouldn't call this a masterpiece as I thought the storyline was a bit forced, especially with the final surprising end, which seems a bit too detached from the rest of the film...

Very interesting debut: a mix of comedy (one-liners), drama (domestic violence), romance (love and friendship). The correct ingredients for a wonderful result. Rome in black & white appears too be a little "didactic", like a good "copy" of old times (just after the 2WW), but pleasant and very faithful to the original one. Delia is a woman like many others, in a common enough situation in those days. The final twist, which slowly makes its way, amazes and exalts the viewer. A spontaneous applause rose at the end of the movie, in a suburban cinema, in Rome. The same Rome that Paola Cortellesi makes us regret.