Mia Madre * * * 1/2

Let's act!

I read somewhere that this film was given a standing ovation at some film festival.  But the place was probably full of industry people and here was a film about what they do - a film of people making a film. Narcissism unbridled. No wonder they went nuts.

Whilst I didn't feel inclined to leap to my feet at its conclusion, I still thought it was pretty good.  (Show me a film about a guy who writes about the films he has seen and puts them on a blog which nobody reads - now that would get me on my feet clapping!)

In Mia Madre an independent Italian Film director engages an American actor to star in her latest film which is about the sale of a factory and the difficult negotiations between the workers and the new management.

John Turturro plays the the American actor and, as in most of his performances, seems to be just about on the brink of being out of control (such is John’s way).

Margherita Buy plays a film director who comes across as rather lacking in confidence - but there is a good reason for that.  Her mother is dying.  Each night she leaves the set to visit her in hospital.  Her brother, excellently played by Nanni Moretti, meets her there and they discuss the practicalities and the pain of it all.

As she is working she keeps getting visions of her mother. Some are memories and some are the type of awful negative thoughts we have when we are worried.  Her tension and fear is palpable.  Her situation is further complicated by her teenage daughter and the extreme difficulty of working with  the American actor who isn’t all he's cracked up to be.

In both humour (this is very funny at times) and sentiment, Mia Madre works well.  You will laugh and you will be moved.

Although it is a satisfying whole Mia Madre is no masterpiece in my opinion.  It could hardly be regarded as the definitive film on making a film, or on the pain of watching a loved one die.

But hey, if you feel like leaping to your feet and giving it a rowdy applause as the credits roll, don’t let me stop you. You’ll be in good company apparently.