Mamma Roma (1962)

Anna Magnani plays ‘Mamma Roma’, a middle-aged sex worker trying to leave her past behind for the sake of her son. Once she has saved enough money to buy her own fruit stall, she hopes to finally become part of respectable society. This proves more difficult than expected. Her son starts making the wrong sort of friends, and the secrets from her past continue to haunt her.

MAMMA ROMA (1962) is Pasolini’s sublime portrayal of everyday life in Rome. An ode to his city, which remains standing despite all adversity. In contrast to the boisterous luxury of Fellini’s LA DOLCE VITA (1960), MAMMA ROMA stands proudly in the tradition of neorealist working-class films such as ROMA, CITTÀ APERTA (1945).