Mamma Roma (1962)

An aging prostitute (Anna Magnani) tries to start a new life selling vegetables at an open market. The motivation behind this is her teenage son (Ettore Garofolo), who she wants to build a better life for. But he lacks ambition and hangs out with small time thieves and hooligans. Written and directed by Pier Paolo Pasolini (HAWKS AND SPARROWS), this is probably his most accessible film. An incisive look at unconditional mother love gone awry (she even blackmails to get her son a job) as well as a look at the struggle to survive in postwar Italy among the disenfranchised and deprived population. The film is anchored by another magnificent performance by that force of nature, the great Anna Magnani. The rest of the cast including Garofolo as her son who brings an appropriate sullenness to the part but not much else are there as a setting to her diamond. Distinctively shot in honed B&W by Tonino Delli Colli, it's an affecting piece of cinema even if one takes it purely on its surface value. With Franco Citti (wonderfully slimy), Luisa Loiano and Silvana Corsini.