Italian comedian and actress Paola Cortellesi’s directorial debut, “C’e’ Ancora Domani” (There’s Still Tomorrow) has outperformed Barbie as the highest-grossing film at the Italian box office in 2023.
There’s Still Tomorrow was the highest grossing film at Italian cinemas in 2023, as per data from Cinetel released today.
The black and white film depicts the domestic struggles of an abused housewife in post-war Rome. It looks at the themes of patriarchy and women’s empowerment during the year of Italian women’s first voting rights. It has now amassed a total of €32,250,000.
In comparison, Greta Gerwig’s production featuring Margot Robbie as the renowned fashion doll Barbie stands at €32,122,000. Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” secures the third spot with earnings of €27,990,000.
The Capri Hollywood film festival recognised Cortellesi as the ‘European Filmmaker 2023’ on Thursday, celebrating the success of her film.
Additionally, it was revealed on Tuesday that “C’e’ Ancora Domani” has surpassed Roberto Benigni’s Oscar-winning classic “Life Is Beautiful,” securing the fifth position in the all-time Italian box office rankings for domestically produced films.
About There’s Still Tomorrow
There’s Still Tomorrow unfolds in 1946, within a Rome grappling with poverty and the aftermath of World War II. The black-and-white film intimately captures the daily struggles of the protagonist, Delia, facing abuse in a society where women’s roles are undervalued, and their opinions dismissed.
At 50 years old, Paola Cortellesi, who co-authored the screenplay, revealed that the film’s themes — encompassing disparity, domestic violence, and women’s rights — had been on her mind for an extended period. The narrative draws loose inspiration from the stories Cortellesi’s grandmothers shared about being women during that era.
Expressing her motivation, Cortellesi said in an interview with The New York Times, “I wanted to craft a contemporary film set in the past because I believe that unfortunately, many things have remained the same.”
Cortellesi expressed surprise at the film’s success, stating, “It’s a good film, and I am satisfied with what I did.” She attributed the widespread popularity to “having touched a raw nerve in the country.”
The film was released at a time when domestic violence, femicide, and women’s rights dominate public discourse following the murder of Giulia Cecchettin. However, Cortellesi insisted she didn’t intend to create a propaganda film.
Cortellesi recognises the importance of conveying Italy’s history of women’s rights to younger generations, including her 10-year-old daughter. She told the NY Times her daughter “has to know that these rights have to be defended, and that they can be put at risk.”
