Mamma Roma - Criterion Collection

Starring:Anna Magnani, Ettore Garofolo, Franco Citti, Silvana Corsini, Luisa Loiano, Paolo Volponi, Luciano Gonini, Vittorio La Paglia, Piero Morgia, Lanfranco Ceccarelli, Marcello Sorrentino, Sandro Meschino, Franco Tovo, Pasquale Ferrarese, Leandro Santarelli, Emanuele Di Bari, Antonio Spoletini, Nino Bionci, Nino Venzi, Maria Bernardini
Director: Pier Paolo Pasolini, Ivo BarnabÃ² Micheli, Roberto Rossellini
Studio: Criterion
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
Combining the immediacy of Italian neorealism with potent criticism of post-war Italian society, Mamma Roma is one of Pier Paolo Pasolini's most accessible and satisfying films. This was only his second feature, but Pasolini (who was mysteriously murdered in 1975) was already demonstrating a powerful affinity for cinema as a forum for his anti-Fascist ideology. To express his outrage at the spiritual vacancy of vulgar consumerism, Pasolini cast the great Anna Magnani in the title role, 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. In Pasolini's worldview, Mamma's petit bourgeois idealism can only be doomed, and the film 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 featuring Orson Welles (part of the 1963 anthology film RoGoPaG, and included here for the first time on DVD). Seized and condemned "for insulting the religion of the state," "La ricotta" presents the crucifixion of Christ as an incendiary criticism of the Catholic Church, in which the actor playing Jesus stuffs himself with ricotta cheese and dies from indigestion on the cross!

Amazon.com

Combining the immediacy of Italian neorealism with potent criticism of post-war Italian society, Mamma Roma is one of Pier Paolo Pasolini's most accessible and satisfying films. This was only his second feature, but Pasolini (who was mysteriously murdered in 1975) was already demonstrating a powerful affinity for cinema as a forum for his anti-Fascist ideology. To express his outrage at the spiritual vacancy of vulgar consumerism, Pasolini cast the great Anna Magnani in the title role, 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. In Pasolini's worldview, Mamma's petit bourgeois idealism can only be doomed, and the film 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 featuring Orson Welles (part of the 1963 anthology film RoGoPaG, and included here for the first time on DVD). Seized and condemned "for insulting the religion of the state," "La ricotta" presents the crucifixion of Christ as an incendiary criticism of the Catholic Church, in which the actor playing Jesus stuffs himself with ricotta cheese and dies from indigestion on the cross!

Description

Anna Magnani is Mamma Roma, a middle-aged prostitute who attempts to extricate herself from her sordid past for the sake of her son. Filmed in the great tradition of Italian neorealism, Mamma Roma offers an unflinching look at the struggle for survival in postwar Italy, and highlights director Pier Paolo Pasolini#s lifelong fascination with the marginalized and dispossessed. Though banned upon its release in Italy for obscenity, today Mamma Roma is considered a classic: a glimpse at a country#s most controversial director in the process of finding his style and a powerhouse performance by one of cinema#s greatest actresses.

Customer Reviews:

Mamma Roma.......2007-06-28

In his first feature film, Pier Paolo Pasolini uses a neorealist aesthetic to critique petit-bourgeois mores, training his sights on a poor outcast who strives and fails to become a respectable member of Italy's postwar society. Played to triumphant perfection by the fiery Anna Magnani, Mamma Roma is a hearty, proud woman willing to do anything for her boy, and Ettore Garofalo is appealing and believable as her son. An early gem by an Italian master, "Mamma Roma" is a moving, perceptive study of how love and sacrifice can still lead to an unjust outcome.

Mamma Roma (1962) - Pier Paolo Pasolini.......2005-10-07

Mamma Roma was Pasolini's second feature and was made before he became the much revered and much hated director of more controversial works. There is much subtly to this film which shows much of post war Italy's less exotic locations. Unlike his Italian contempories such as Antonioni and Fellini, Pasolini decided to show the lives of the bottom of the social class, and in doing so carved a unique niche for himself. The film has good performances, and the actions in it resonate to a much higher importance than one might first perceive. Mamma Roma is a good little film from a director who's career was much too short.

One of Pasolini's Best.......2005-05-15

"Mamma Roma" was Pier Paolo Pasolini's second feature film and if you've seen his other works, you'd probably be able to tell. None of Pasolini's visually splendor is here. So far I've seen "The Gospel According to St.Matthew", "Arabian Nights", and "Medea". All three movies had some of the most memorable images I can remember. Pasolini is what cinema is all about. He was a visual master. It's odd to think that he was a poet. As a poet I would think the words would be his most important tool. He would place great importance on what his characters said, but no, he created startling images. Take a film like "Medea". I saw that movie about a month ago, but I couldn't begin to tell you the plot. I pretty much forgot it. But ask me about the visual? I still remember the impression it left on me as I watched it. The same goes with "Arabian Nights". But "Mamma Roma" is completely different. Now this doesn't mean it's a bad movie. On the contrary. I think it's a masterpiece.

What "Mamma Roma" remind me of are the post WW2 Italian films such as "Germany Year Zero", "Rocco and his Brothers", and "The Bicyle Thief". It follows in the tradition of Visconti and De Sica.

Anna Magnani stars as Mamma Roma, a woman who has big plans for her son. She has ambition. She wants to give her son a better life and will do almost anything to make sure he has one. Her son is Ettore (Ettore Garofolo), he has different plans for his life. He wants to hang out with his friends, steal, and never work or go to school. Only one is going to get what they want.

As the film goes on we feel a connection with Mamma Roma. Did our mothers make such sacrifices for us? Did we not appreciate all they did for us? Pasolini, like the best films, makes these characters seem real. The movie hits all the right notes and carries us with it. "Mamma Roma" takes few wrong steps, in fact they are not even worth mentioning. Despite being something different from Pasolini this is one of his best films. I loved it.

Bottom-line: One of Pasolini's best films. Doesn't resemble his later works but displays his genius. Pasolini is what cinema is all about.

Mamma Mia! Mamma Roma!.......2005-05-08

You would have to understand what I mean by saying natural. Mamma Roma was a natural woman, a sunny, vibrant, sometimes crazy character. Pasolini was infatuated by those who were not shaped by civilization and those on the margins of society. The beginning of the movie is amazing. There is laughter, singing, call and response, all of which is so beautiful to see and feel that I had to rewind rewind the DVD just to see it again. There is something in Mamma Roma that is very rare in our world today.

I can't really tell you why I could not stop watching this wonderful movie. Was it the touching love this former prostitute had for her son? Was it her infectuous laugh? Was it the fate that she accepted so beautifully? I don't know but in spite of everything, she was beautiful in a way that a Hollywood woman could never be. Yet, perhaps the secret of Mamma Roma is that she embraced life for all that its worth or not worth. Never once did I get the impression that she would prefer to be someone else.

Pasolini does not always hit the mark but with this one he seemed to make all the right decisions. I can still her laughing!

A touching and red-blooded film!

an early Pasolini film........2005-02-11

This review is for the Criterion Collection DVD edition of the film.

Mamma Roma is the story of a prostitute in Italy who quits her job to be with her son but keeps being hounded by her pimp.

I found the film to be dull and not as interesting as some of Pasolini's earlier films. The film does have some nice scenes of suburban Rome but that is about the only part worth mentioning.

The DVD has some nice special features though.

Disc 1 contains the film, with a theatrical trailer and a poster gallery

Disc 2 contains an hour long biographical film on Pier Paolo Pasolini, a 35 minute early film by Pasolini starring Orson Welles titled "La ricotta" about a filmmaker doing a portrayal of Christ's crucifixion, and interviews with Bernardo Bertolucci, Tonino Delli Colli, and Enzo Siciliano, about Pasolini.

I suggest this film for Pasolini fans only.

DVD:

DVD

Augsburger Puppenkiste - Gut gebrüllt, Löwe