MOVIE REVIEW: The great and valuable gift of family in Nanni Moretti's "MIA MADRE"

By Roger Costa

Call it the Best Film of 2016. Nanni Moretti’s “Mia Madre” is an incredibly moving, accurate, precise, profound and highly spirited portrait of family and humanitarian values being challenged by the pressures of modern days. With his usual sensibility of family insights, and remarkable observations on the father figure, for example, the intimate “Son’s Room” and his latest “We Have a Pope” (which coincidentally predicted the Pope’s resignation), Mr. Moretti turns his lens into the feminine world of Margherita, a strong, settled, mature woman dealing with multiple crisis in her life. While observing the woman’s tribulations and perseverance, as well as her responses to each of the aggravated personal challenges, the writer/director expands the story into an important account of contemporary issues, resulting in purely defensive analysis on unemployment crisis, financial breakdown, artistic failures, professional anxieties, modern egocentrism, lack of compassion and the importance of preserving the most valuable gift of all, family values.

In a deeply intense and fierce performance, Margherita Buy could easily lead the pack of greatest actresses of the year as well, with this powerful role of a film director trying to bring to life her ultimate work amidst chaotic events. She carries a firmly determined personality and incredible control of the adversities, although she eventually will put her temperance at risk, such as the complicated communication with the stubborn American actor (played by John Turturro) she has exported to lead her film, her teenage daughter’s phase of curious transformations, and mostly affecting, her mother’s gravely illness, which she shares the caring with her brother, played by Mr. Moretti himself.

Obviously a reflection of himself, Margherita’s character is one of those memorable female personas that enters the hall of fame for its excellency and unique strength. This fact was confirmed, when Mr. Moretti stated that the film was initially based on his own experiences when he lost his mother, which he couldn’t reply properly when I asked him how hard and painful was it to portrait his own mother’s fading; The occasion was at last year’s New York Film Festival, where the film premiered, after receiving the honors of the Ecumenical Jury Prize Award in Cannes, and Mr. Moretti, apparently a little upset with his confusing translator sitting next to him, simply responded that when he is writing a film, he focuses on the “writing” and not on the emotions that inspired him to, but also concluded with “I am not sure if I agree with what I am saying”. Despite the misunderstanding, Mr. Moretti is a genius of humane emotions, and his sensitive aesthetic is a very rich approach to Neorealism. He casts a compassionate examination over the troubles affecting the protagonist, which some seem unbearable, profoundly sad, yet Mr. Moretti analysis everything with such courageous strength, optimistic and honest sense of humor, that perfectly reflects on real human interactions, and reminds us of the essence of existence.

Margherita Buys’s performance is also a work that should get all raves about it. Instead of following the trend of giving Awards for roles of “women losing control and popping pills in search of solving the problems” (see “Blue Jasmine”, “Silver Lining Playbook” and “Still Alice”), critics and society should praise the determination and balance of Margherita’s character- as she’s facing several dilemmas at the same time, she finds comfort in her own natural ways, as well as maintaining everyone around her in proper form. So, perhaps it’s time for the Academy to recognize this wonderful Italian actress in this life-changing role.

A powerfully delicate, unforgettable, heartbreaking and fraternal look at human experiences, such as caring, loving, helping, and losing at some point, “Mia Madre” is a masterpiece that touches everyone with its familiar subjects. It is impossible not to laugh, cry and feel completely involved with this admirable and transcendental reaffirmation of family standards and values.