There’s Still Tomorrow is a 2023 Italian period comedy drama, co-written & directed by Paola Cortellesi in her directorial debut. It’s technically 2023, but the film is really having its official release in 2025 in the U.S., so I am considering this a 2025 film. The film stars Cortellesi, Valerio Mastandrea, Giorgio Colangeli, Emanuela Fanelli, Romana Maggiora Vergano, and Francesco Centorame

Set in post-war 1940’s Rome, the film tells the story of Delia (Cortellesi), a working-class wife and mother trapped in a toxic marriage with Ivano (Mastandrea) who dreams of a better future for herself and her daughter, Marcella (Vergano). When a mysterious letter arrives, Delia discovers the courage to changing her life for the better.

Looking ahead at the 2025 slate, I was more enthusiastic than ever. I didn’t think a perfect movie would come so quickly, but I still felt like I would enjoy what this year had to offer. After seeing this listed on IMDb’s coming soon page and getting an email about it all in the same day, it felt like a sign that I needed to watch it. The film has even won numerous awards at the Italian Academy Awards and was the most successful film at the Italian box office in 2023. Not only is this the first best movie of the year, it will go down as one of my favorite movies of all time.

Out of the vast majority of films I’ve seen, international included, this one manages to stand out amongst the rest. I knew nearly nothing about the film going in and that’s the right way to go about it. When the film starts, we immediately see things from Delia’s perspective. The tone comes off goofy and light-hearted as we see her husband strike her face. It’s a very alarming way to start the film, but it’s also the most interesting way to get its points across.

If no one told me that Paola Cortellesi also co-wrote and directed it, I wouldn’t have even thought about it. She disappears in this role. What’s even more impressive is how she lets the style speak for itself, which is unlike anything her character is. If we saw what she went through as an outsider, we would feel sorry for her. While we do feel sorry for her, it’s easy to feel like she’s got a good head on her shoulders as she tries to see the best in everything and be the best mother she can be.

Throughout the film, there is a comedic tone to it, but it’s not always funny. She gets beaten down as she tries to spin it in a way that makes sense to her. She has a daughter and two sons, but only shows more attention to the daughter, because she sees herself in her. The story leads into a third act twist that makes you look at everything differently that digs deeper into the film’s themes.

Shooting the film in black-and-white also helps deepen the film’s themes by showing how Delia sees her world. I’d also argue that we are seeing it in black-and-white as well. We think we have this character figured out. When she makes certain decisions, we can’t believe it. That is until the truth comes out that makes you think otherwise. The film may be in black-and-white, but the film makes it clear to see the whole truth before making a definitive perspective on someone.

Based on what I am seeing, the only negative aspect I can find from other viewers is the music. Personally, I loved the music choices. It threw me off at first, yet it helps establish its tone. The music helps show how the film’s time period happened not that long ago, representing how some things haven’t changed.

While the film does follow Delia, the film wouldn’t have worked without its incredible supporting cast. Emanuela Fanelli won Best Supporting Actress at the 69th David di Donatello for her work as Delia’s friend, Marisa. Valerio Mastandrea puts in terrifying work to be as despicable as possible as Delia’s husband, Ivano. Romana Maggiora Vergano delivers a standout performance as Delia’s daughter, Marcella, that is surely going to be a breakout role. The casting department did a great job at picking the right people.

Outside of that, there are some smaller, supporting characters that all serve a purpose. One of my favorite characters is William, played by Yonv Joseph, an African American soldier who helps Delia. His purpose in the story shows how people outside of her community care about her. Having someone speak English also creates a universal approach that can make a broader audience sympathize with Delia.

Overall, There’s Still Tomorrow exceeded my expectations to create something timeless, both technically and thematically. Paola Cortellesi has a unique & visionary approach to her storytelling that gives her the ability to also lead the film without overshadowing the rest of the cast. I can still see this being in my top 10 by the end of this year. This is one of my favorite movies of all time. This is one of the most important films of the decade.

VERDICT: 5/5 (Perfect)