Common Sense Media Review
By Tara McNamara
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Italian historical drama delves into seedy side of fame.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Finally Dawn
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In FINALLY DAWN, Mimosa (Rebecca Antonaci), who's on the verge of getting engaged and settling down, accompanies her sister to an audition at Rome's Cinecittà Studios in 1953—but she's the one who ends up hired for a featured role. After filming wraps for the day, the movie's stars (Lily James, Joe Keery) bring Mimosa to a party attended by the rich and famous that turns out to be a wild all-nighter. The film takes place the day after the real-life murder of Wilma Montesi, a scandal that rocked Rome's high society and politics and has inspired similar levels of obsession as Hollywood's The Black Dahlia.
Is It Any Good?
Writer-director Saverio Costanzo's love of classic film is evident in every frame of this lush Italian production. And for cinephiles, Finally Dawn's re-creation of Cinecittà Studios in its golden age—the location that was home to Hollywood classics like Roman Holiday, Ben-Hur, and Cleopatra—is a glorious gift, sparking the imagination about what it might have been like to walk through the backlot and be an extra on set during the filming of an epic. But for teens who don't have an understanding of the real events the movie is based on (and that will likely be most of them), it may just feel dated.
Drawing on the real-life mystery surrounding the fate of 21-year-old aspiring actress Montesi—whose death sparked a sensational scandal involving drugs, sex, and Italy's political elite—Finally Dawn's historical intrigue is likely to resonate most with Italian audiences. For everyone else, it's a middling coming-of-age drama in which one wild night with sex, drugs, and celebrities brings a shy girl out of her shell—a message some parents may find problematic. Still, the final frame is stunning, a bold, metaphor-rich image destined for frames and memes; for some, that one glorious shot may make the entire journey worthwhile.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what makes something a coming-of-age story. How does Finally Dawn fit into this genre?
Do you think this story about a young woman in the 1950s would have been different if it was written and/or directed by a woman? If so, do you think men can create authentic narratives about women, and vice versa? Why, or why not?
Talk about the real-life case of Wilma Montesi. Had you heard of her before? How did the mystery of her death impact Italian society?
Besides entertainment, what opportunity does historical fiction provide? What real-life event do you think would be interesting to create a narrative film or TV series around?
Why is society fascinated with celebrity? Have you heard the saying "never meet your idols"? What does it mean, and how does Finally Dawn play into that idea?
Movie Details
- In theaters : July 18, 2025
- On DVD or streaming : July 18, 2025
- Cast : Lily James , Joe Keery , Willem Dafoe , Rebecca Antonaci
- Director : Saverio Costanzo
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Samuel Goldwyn Films
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : History
- Run time : 119 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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