Pasolini's second film after ACCATTONE (1961) stars Magnani as a prostitute who tries to start a new life. She and her son (Garofolo) move to a different part of town where she tries to make a living legitimately, but her past keeps popping up. She is eventually forced to occasionally go
back to the red-light district when money becomes scarce. Her son becomes a thief and soon things go from bad to worse for the pair.
The mood of this film is grim throughout and lingers long after the closing credits roll. Bolstered by yet another powerhouse performance from Magnani, MAMMA ROMA is strongly realistic and remains one of Pasolini's most accessible if not most important films. leave a comment
