An Italian neorealist critique of post-war Italian society, Mamma Roma (1962) was only Pier Paolo Pasolini's (who was mysteriously murdered in 1975) second film, but he was already employing the cinema as a forum for his anti-fascist ideology, as well as a vehicle for expressing his outrage over the spiritual vacancy of vulgar consumerism. Here, Pasolini casts the great Anna Magnani in the title role as a former prostitute struggling to transcend her sordid past in a desperate attempt to give her estranged teenage son the better life she never had. It's an ill-fated ambition, and the film ultimately assumes the melodramatic thrust of tragic opera. Like most of Pasolini's films, Mamma Roma attracted controversy, but it was nothing compared to the outcry over "La Ricotta," a 35-minute short (also included on this DVD) that was condemned by the Italian government for "insulting the religion of the state" (the actor playing Jesus stuffs himself with ricotta cheese and dies from indigestion on the cross). A wealth of DVD supplements on this fine-looking Criterion Collection double-disc set provide a deeper understanding of Pasolini's life and politics, including new interviews with former collaborators, a 1995 documentary about Pasolini's career, and a 32-page booklet. Recommended. (J. Shannon)
Mamma Roma
Criterion, 2 discs, 110 min., in Italian w/English subtitles, not rated, DVD: $39.95 Volume 19, Issue 5
Mamma Roma
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