Now, Loren is reportedly in the running once more, this time for a standout late-career turn in The Life Ahead (La vita davanti a sé), adapted from the novel by Romain Gary, and directed by her son Edoardo Ponti. Recently tipped by Variety as a contender for the 2021 awards, the 86-year-old could become the Academy’s oldest best actress nominee while also breaking Henry Fonda’s record for the longest gap between acting nominations (41 years).

Loren plays Madame Rosa, a Holocaust survivor living in a southern Italian port, who cares for the children of sex workers – a profession in which she was once employed. Magnetic screen newcomer Ibrahima Gueye is Momo, the orphaned Senegalese street kid who snatches Rosa’s bag, only to have genially protective Dr Coen (Renato Carpentieri) force him to return it, and to apologise. At first, sparks fly between these two chalk-and-cheese characters, each proudly defiant in their own way. But the doctor seems to spy a kinship between their predicaments, and entreats Rosa to take Momo in – albeit at a price. As Rosa’s health declines (she is increasingly given to bouts of trance-like disorientation), it falls to Momo to become her saviour – a neatly inevitable reversal of fortune.

The main selling point is Loren, who combines world-weary abrasiveness with a sense of something softer, turning Rosa into a believably divided character who puts a brave face on the future while seeking refuge from the past in the sanctuary of her lonely basement. Possessed of fiercely expressive features that can flit between anger and enchantment in an instant, she commands the screen, closely observed by Angus Hudson’s camera, which is drawn (like the audience’s gaze) to the glint in her eyes, the imperious tilt of her chin.

As for Gueye, he brings a vibrant authenticity and confidence to the narrator role of Momo, capturing both the bravado of a youth drawn to the temptations of drug-dealing street life and the innate vulnerability of a child displaced (geographically and culturally), attempting to choose between parental role models.

You can see the trailer of the film here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0ejncDxgCc&t=133s

source (review; video and picture): The Life Ahead review – Sophia Loren’s commanding comeback, The Guardian; Sophia Loren on “The Life Ahead”, CBS Sunday Morning, Youtube

A videó meghallgatása után próbáljátok megtalálni az alábbi mondatokban a hibás információkat és cseréljétek a videóban elhangzott helyes információkra.

1. Her career spans over 17 years.
2. The time for her to start filming again was a bit complicated but wonderful.
3. Sophia bravely mentioned her real age.
4. Sophia Loren is 87 years old.
5. Sophia says that everybody ages except her.
6. Sophia claims that she doesn’t look wonderful for her age.
7. Sophia’s mother was a divorced woman who looked after Sophia.
8. Sophia made this film because her character looked like her mother.
9. Sophia’s mother was brave inside but looked strong.
10. The director of the film is Sophia’s elder son.
11. His son, who happens to be a director, would be sane if he hadn’t chosen her mother as the main character.
12. Ibrahima Gueye who plays Momo, is an experienced child actor.
13. Ponti second-guessed his choice of Gueye playing the opposite of Sophia.
14. Gueye couldn’t see Sophia in the way as Ponti could.
15. Gueye lived separately from Sophia and her son during the shooting.
16. Gueye could look at Sophia Loren and see her as a star.
17. Sophia would have welcomed the interviewer and the staff for a pasta in her Italian home.
18. Sophia Loren was the second to win ‘the best actress Oscar’ in a foreign language film – Two Women – in 1961.
19. Sophia never doubts herself.
20. For Sophia every film she plays in is as if it was part of her career.

keys/megoldások:
1. 70 years; 2. was fun and wonderful; 3. She didn’t mention it but the narrator mentioned it later;
4. 86; 5. So does she, ‘me, too’; 6. she looks wonderful; 7. she was an unmarried, single woman;
8. Her character reminded her a lot about her mother; 9. She was fragile inside;
10. younger one; 11. He would have been insane/idiot; 12. It is his first film;
13. He never second-guessed it.; 14. Gueye could see her in the same way as Ponti could.;
15. They all lived together, under one roof to know each other better and create a bond.;
16. He could look at her and see an Italian mother as well as the star.;
17. in her home in Switzerland; 18. She was the first;
19. She doubts herself every moment.; 20. as if it was her first film

Matchmaking Daughter Creates ‘Date My Mum’ Facebook Page

A

A daughter whose mum has had a string of nightmare relationships and disastrous dates has set up a Facebook page to help her find a new man. After years of seeing her mother date men who were "liars, cheats, smelly or plain weird" Emily Wheeler, 30, has created a Facebook page titled ‘Date My Mum’. She is desperate to find a new partner for her mother Roz Naderer, 58, who she says "deserves to be treated like a Queen" but is twice divorced and been incredibly unlucky in love.
 

B
Emily came up with the idea after chatting to husband Simon, 42, who works as a graphic designer and helps companies to market themselves on Facebook. He thought he could apply his expertise to help his mother-in-law find a man with whom she can spend the rest of her life. "My gorgeous mum is single and looking for a man to sweep her off her feet," writes Emily on the Facebook page. "She’s been on some dates with guys who have turned out to be liars, cheats, smelly or just plain weird – and so I’m taking it upon myself to try and find her someone suitable!"

C
Mum-of-four Roz first married when she was 21 and was with her husband for 20 years. She then married her second husband when she was 42, but they divorced after 10 years and she has spent the last six years in a string of disastrous relationships after using internet dating sites. "One man she met and had a relationship with for two years said he was a widower and his wife had died of breast cancer, but in fact he was still married," said Emily, who has a two-year-old son Harrison. "He claimed he was going away on business trips, but was actually spending time with his wife."

D
Another of Roz’s long-term relationships was with a one-legged man who lived in Northumbria. "He told my mum he had lost his leg because he had an accident but it turned out it was because he’d tried to commit suicide and had ended up landing on a fence," said Emily. On her last romantic outing Roz’s date went to the toilet before returning to claim his best friend’s car had broken down and he had to leave. "Mum had been looking forward to the date and was really disappointed when it didn’t work out," said Emily. “It’s hard for her to meet people, but there must be a lovely, normal guy out there who would be perfect for her. I know she gets lonely and wants a partner to settle down and share her life."

E
On the Facebook page Emily states: Mum is 58, 5’4", size 10 with curves in all the right places. She has all her own hair and teeth! She’d like to meet a man who is of similar age and can also make the same claim! She has a dog and a cat and is a dynamic and intelligent woman. She loves to cook and is a dab-hand in the kitchen. Her cakes are awesome and she makes a meal fit for a king. She deserves to be treated like a Queen. If you’re interested and would like to know more (and as long as you are single, shower regularly and use deodorant on a daily basis), please drop us a message.
 

F
The Facebook page shows photos of Roz, who has four grandchildren, "looking sexy in her sarong" on holiday, looking glamorous at the Newmarket Races and spending time with her grandchildren.
It states that her interests are walking in the countryside, swimming, reading, going to the cinema, fine wine and eating out. The page has already had lots of likes. "Mum’s perfect man needs to be someone who family is important to and who shares her interests," said Emily. "I want her to find someone who adores her and treats her the right way."

a string of – egy sor
disastrous – rémes
to date – járni valakivel
to deserve – megérdemelni
to come up with – előállni valamivel
to apply – alkalmazni
expertise – szakértelem
to sweep someone off his/her feet – levenni valakit a lábáról
suitable – megfelelő
internet dating sites – internetes társkereső oldal
widower – özvegy férfi
to claim – állítani
to end up – valahogy végezni
to work out –sikerül, összejön
curves – domborulatok
dab-hand – mester
sarong – maláj szoknya
glamorous – elbűvölő
to shares someone’s interests – hasonló érdeklődési körű

Find which sentence summarises which paragraph. There are two extra sentences.

1. Emily’s mum is an attractive woman and a great cook.

2. Emily’s mum is interested in sports, travelling and reading.

3. Emily would like to find a partner for her mum on Facebook.

4. Emily’s mum had been married twice and used internet dating sites.

5. Emily thinks her mum is not able to choose good partners.

6. The reaction to the Facebook page, which describes Roz, is promising.

7. Roz receives help from daughter and son-in-law.

8. Roz has been disappointed a number of times.

Answers: A-3 B-7 C-4 D-8 E-1 F-6

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