Review: Paola Coretellesi stars in her outstanding directorial debut 'C'è ancora domani'

An Italian box office hit and winner of six David di Donatello awards, “C'è ancora domani” (“There’s Still Tomorrow”) is actress Paola Cortellesi’s highly regarded directorial debut. Set in the aftermath of World War II, the film paints a vivid portrait of post-war Rome, where liberation contrasts with lingering hardship. 

Cortellesi stars as Delia, a woman who lives within the strict confines of her role as wife and mother, dominated by her overbearing, abusive husband, Ivano (Valerio Mastandrea), and his demanding, bedridden father (Giorgio Colangeli). Her greatest hope rests on her daughter, Marcella (Romana Maggiora Vergano), whose engagement to the respectable Giulio (Francesco Centorame) seems, at first, like a possible escape from the cycle of female submission that comes with being on the brink of poverty. The story takes an emotional turn when a mysterious letter awakens Delia’s long-suppressed courage, pushing her to question the so-called traditional (gender) roles that she has come to accept and imagine a different future. 

The film follows Delia through her daily routine as she prepares breakfast for her constantly bullying husband and three children. Once they are off to school and work, she cares for her father-in-law, bathing him and serving him breakfast while he verbally abuses her and comes onto her. Once she finishes this caregiving part of her morning, she is off to do some odd jobs for which she is paid less than her male counterparts. She gives all the money she earns to her husband to cover their monthly expenses, but sneaks a little for a secret stash that she plans to use to buy her daughter a new wedding dress. One day, while carrying out these daily tasks, she stumbles upon a photograph on the ground. She realizes that it belongs to an American serviceman. He is deeply grateful to her for finding the photo and gives her two American chocolate bars to thank her, also telling her that he is in her debt for the good deed. She gives one of the bars to a lost love whose autoshop she passes on her daily route, and the other to her children. Her husband becomes furious that she accepted a gift from a man and physically abuses her. The scene is set as a tango, with Cortellesi and Mastandrea dancing. In these scenes where the abuse takes place, the audience doesn’t see Ivano beat Delia. Instead, the abuse is seen through the eyes of their neighbors and children who can hear it.

Cortellesi and Mastandrea have worked together in the past, so they are very natural together. Their chemistry is strong, and they are obviously comfortable with each other. Mastandrea is one of Italy’s most talented and prolific actors, and he certainly proves his talent by transforming into the detestable Ivano, who doesn’t hesitate to strike his wife or put her down with harsh words whenever it suits him. He is a truly remarkable, gifted actor. Couple that talent with Cortellesi, who is a natural comedian and masterful actress with a wide range. Their scenes play out with ease and keep the movie's pace quick, so there is never a dull moment. Add a couple of blasts of contemporary music, and the film has a modern feel despite being in black and white.

The finale of the film begins when Delia overhears her daughter’s fiancé speak to her in a controlling, abusive tone. When she confronts her daughter, Marcella pretends it never happened. Delia, however, cannot ignore it, and she takes drastic measures, cashing in the favor owed by the American serviceman, to change the course of her daughter’s future. She ultimately uses the money she saved for the wedding dress to invest in Marcella’s future, ensuring she will take a different path than her mother. The ending is clever. Just when you think Delia is headed for a one-way ticket out of town, her true destination is revealed, and we understand what was in that mystery letter.

The strong performances and sensitive balance of realism and hope result in both a personal awakening and a powerful reflection on women’s resilience in a changing society. Click here to stream “C'è ancora domani” on Amazon.