Vittorio De Sica’s Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow (Ieri, oggi, domani) is a sparkling gem of Italian cinema—an irresistible blend of sharp social satire, romance, and pure star power that showcases the iconic pairing of Sophia Loren and Marcello Mastroianni at their most magnetic. Released in 1963 and later awarded the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film, this three-part anthology is a timeless celebration of love, desire, and the delicious complications of human nature.
The film unfolds in three distinct episodes, each set in a different Italian city, with Loren and Mastroianni reinventing themselves in every story. In Adelina, the opening segment set in Naples, Loren plays Adelina Sbaratti, a feisty black-market cigarette seller who cleverly avoids prison by staying perpetually pregnant—thanks to her devoted but exhausted husband Carmine (Mastroianni). The segment is lively, earthy, and full of sly humor about poverty, resilience, and the wits of a woman who outsmarts the system.
In Anna, the tone shifts to a glossy, bittersweet Milanese tale. Loren transforms into Anna Molteni, a bored, wealthy socialite entangled in an affair with her lover Renzo (Mastroianni). The story plays out mostly in a luxurious Rolls-Royce, highlighting Anna’s selfishness and Renzo’s hopeless infatuation. Here, De Sica gently skewers the moral emptiness of the upper class while giving his stars plenty of room to play off each other’s charm and exasperation.
The final act, Mara, is perhaps the most iconic—thanks in large part to Loren’s unforgettable striptease. In Rome, Loren is Mara, a glamorous and quick-witted call girl who tries to keep her business in order while fending off an infatuated young neighbor who dreams of joining the priesthood. Mastroianni’s lovesick client is hilariously undone by Mara’s mix of seduction and unexpected moral clarity. The segment is playful and sexy, yet also tinged with warmth and a touch of wistful longing.
What ties these three vignettes together isn’t just Loren and Mastroianni’s sizzling chemistry, but De Sica’s loving eye for Italian life—its contradictions, its humor, its passion. Loren shines in each role, showcasing her remarkable range: earthy and maternal, icy and elegant, sensual and clever. Mastroianni matches her note for note, playing exasperated husbands, hapless lovers, and desperate admirers with equal charm.
Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow is more than just a showcase for two of Italy’s greatest stars—it’s a celebration of life’s messy pleasures and the enduring allure of human folly. Decades later, it remains a joyous testament to De Sica’s talent for finding laughter and warmth in everyday stories, and to Loren and Mastroianni’s status as one of cinema’s most captivating screen duos.
