C'e Ancora Domani (aka There's Still Tomorrow) (2023)

Set in postwar Rome, a working class woman (Paola Cortellesi) stuck in an abusive marriage dreams of a better future for her and her daughter (Romana Maggiora Vergano). When a mysterious letter arrives, she discovers the courage to change the circumstances of her life. Directed by actress Paola Cortellesi in her directorial debut. A massive hit in Italy, it received 19 David Di Donatello nominations (the Italian Oscar), winning six awards including best actress for Cortellesi. It received a limited U.S. release last year. Shot in B&W to duplicate the look of the Italian neo realist style of the 1940s and 50s. It's a fine film but some of Cortellesi's directorial decisions are awkward. For example, the anachronistic film score (which includes rap) is jarring and the domestic abuse scenes are diffused by stylizing them as romanticized musical numbers. But rather than a full out feminist film, Cortellesi concentrates on the baby steps towards women's liberations which would eventually blossom some 20 years later. With Valerio Mastandrea, Emanuela Fanelli, Giorgio Colangeli and Francesco Centorame.