THElife goes like this by Riccardo Milani conquered the public with a taking of almost 7 million euros, positioning itself among the major Italian successes of the 2025/2026 film season. The comedy with Virginia Raffaele, Diego Abatantuono and Aldo Baglio lands on today Netflix.
The story, freely inspired by the story of the shepherd Ovidio Marras (who passed away in 2024), who for decades defended his ground by preventing the construction of a luxury resort, revolves around Efisio Mulas, an elderly man from Sulcis, who refuses money from a Milanese building owner to protect their land.
Life goes like this on Netflix: Italian film plot streaming from February 5th
We are in 1999. Efisio Mula (Giuseppe Ignazio Loi) is an 80-year-old shepherd who lives in the pristine area of Sulcis, Sardinia. In Milan, Giacomo (Diego Abatantuono) is the head of a real estate giant that builds luxury resorts. His new idea is to transform that strip of land into a five-star paradise. Right there, where Mulas lives with his cows.
It won’t be difficult to convince Efisio to give up everything, he is convinced James. To talk to the shepherd, the construction magnate hires Mariano (Aldo Baglio), a Sicilian construction manager. The first proposal is 300 thousand euros to leave the house. Mulas refuses. Francesca (Virginia Raffaele), the pastor’s daughteris fought because that resort could provide employment to many fellow citizens, often forced to leave for the continent in search of work. Then, like his father, he fights to defend the identity of the territory.
“That’s how life goes.” (Photo Claudio Iannone)
The negotiation between Efisio and Mulas is exhausting and becomes exhausting, and almost comical. The whole country is against the shepherd because he prevents the place, isolated from the world, from evolving. The Archbishop also intervenes to speak with Efisio, but is unable to convince him to change his mind. Years pass. A legal battle begins when Giacomo’s bulldozers begin to dig and prevent the shepherd’s cows from accessing the stable.
Riccardo Milani’s social comedy based on a true story
Riccardo Milani afterwards A world apartsigns a new social comedyagain with Virginia Raffaele. The film was a box office success, grossing almost 7 million euros. The story is inspired by the real story of the Sardinian shepherd Ovidio Marras (who passed away in 2024), who for decades he fought against the developers and defended his land preventing the construction of a resort.
What guided him was his courage and above all the idea of defending the territory and cultural identity. Milani talks about the conflict between the needs of those looking for a job in a place that offers little of it and those who want to protect their roots from speculators. «I frequent those places and ten years ago I came across this story – states the director – I believe in people and their ability to send strong signals. Here the story is twofold: on the one hand there is a man who knows how to say no with courage. Courage that all of us lack today; on the other there is a community that is splitting in the name of work.”
Virginia Raffaele. (Photo Claudio Iannone)
The cast of Life goes like this with Virginia Raffaele and Aldo Baglio
The shepherd who fights against the building owner Giacomo is played by the real octogenarian shepherd Giuseppe Ignazio Loi. Milani wanted to use non-professional actors to give greater authenticity to the comedy. Efisio Mulas’ daughter is Virginia Raffaele, who took Sardinian lessons before filming began.
Mariano, the Sicilian construction manager who tries to convince Efisio by all means, is Aldo Baglio, while the cynical president of the Milanese construction company is played by an imperturbable Diego Abatantuono. The cast also includes Geppi Cucciarithe judge of the trial whose protagonists are Mulas and Giacomo. Chef Cracco appears in a cameo.
