236 - Mamma Roma

[captainofbeef]

- New high-definition digital transfer, with restored image and sound
- Three new interviews about director Pier Paolo Pasolini: Bernardo Bertolucci, an assistant to Pasolini on his early films; Tonino Delli Colli, cinematographer on eleven of Pasolini’s fourteen films; and Enzo Siciliano, author of Pasolini: A Biography
- Pier Paolo Pasolini (1955), a 55-minute documentary by filmmaker Ivo Barnabò Micheli covering the career of the controversial artist
- La ricotta (1963), a 35-minute film by Pasolini about a director who sets out to make a film about the Passion of Jesus
- Original theatrical trailer
- Poster gallery
- Essay by novelist and cultural critic Gary Indiana
- New and improved English subtitle translation
- Optimal image quality: RSDL dual-layer edition

[criterionmaster]

I just watched this and was blown away by how powerful it is. While in some ways nothing like the other Pasolini films I have seen, in other ways it is. It still has a beauty to the shots while maintaining its feel and look of not being polished.

A deep character study about a mom and son trying to make it in the world. While Mamma Roma is working trying to support her son and get away from her old self, he is out falling in love with the town whore and not listening to her. Pasolini dives deep into his characters.

I loved how Pasolini chose to show two scenes with Mamma Roma walking at night, completely black; he only lit Mamma Roma with black all around her. She walks through the night and people come out of the black as she talks to them and then mid-sentence they walk back into the black and another person comes.

You can certainly feel for Mamma Roma, especially at the end. I have stated how strong the film is but the end will be in your head for days.

The performances are all good for the most part, the son I felt was a little stiff at times but it is forgivable as he did manages to not take me out of the film. But Anna Magnani gives an absolutely stunning performance as Mamma Roma. She will blow you away, especially at the finale.



A masterpiece that must be seen. Pasolini is one of my new favorite filmmakers. His films are so real, so beautiful.