Positivity can be infectious: "ma ma" [2015 Spain]

After Room in Rome. it has taken five years for the redoubtable Julio Medem to come up with a new full-length feature, and while it has a simple and more straightforward narrative when compared to his earlier works, "ma ma" still has his style and tone stamped all over it. It is also the first time he gets to work with Spanish icon Penélope Cruz, with whom he also co-produced the film.












Recently made unemployed and also recently separated mother Magda (Penélope Cruz) visits her gynaecologist Julián (Asier Etxeandia) for a routine checkup, only to discover that she requires a mastectomy in addition to chemotherapy after being diagnosed for breast cancer. "You won't even leave me my nipple as a keepsake?", she pleads with Julián in what for her is essentially the latest salvo in a quick succession of life-altering events.

The one bright spot in Magda's life remains Dani (Teo Planell), her twelve year old son whose footballing skills don't go unnoticed by Arturo (Luis Tosar), a Real Madrid scout. Returning from the hospital, she bumps into him at the stadium where Dino is playing, but just as they begin to strike up a conversation, Arturo receives a call that his daughter had just died and his wife left in coma following a road accident. Despite having a bad day of her own, Magda takes pity at his plight and helps him to the hospital where his wife is admitted.

Their friendship grows, and following her operation and his wife's passing, become a couple. Magda and Dino move into his home. But before long, the new found tranquility is shattered once again when she receives devastating news from a deeply upset and caring Julián during a subsequent checkup, which would lead her to take the most momentous decision in her life, on her own terms...

Unlike most conventional couplings, Magda and Arturo's love doesn't start during happier times with sexual attraction being the driver - they become soulmates long before they become lovers, even though they hold very different outlooks; whilst Arturo is inspired by faith, Magda is inspired by life itself, and doggedly pursues and spreads 'happiness' no matter what it throws at her - a positivity that accommodates and spreads to everyone who she comes in contact with.

This is Medem's unique world; fed by streams of positive energy and goodwill in life's undulating landscape of highs and lows. His world is determinedly curious, devoid of cynicism, and seeks to find order or a pattern amongst seemingly chaotic events. Whilst he revelled in showing us such symmetry in earlier works such as Sex and Lucia and Lover of the Arctic Circle, in "ma ma" he restricts himself to just a single such visual metaphor, with the character 'Natasha'. The cinematography might be relatively subdued owing to the subject matter, but the film nevertheless retains all the sumptuousness one can expect from a Julio Medem, not to mention fine performances from the main cast. Apart from one plot detail which perhaps could've been explained sufficiently from an ethical point of view, this couples-film ticks the right boxes and reaffirms Julio Medem as my favourite Spanish director working today. Recommended Viewing..!

Amazon.es DVD Link [PAL]

 

The Nudity: Penélope Cruz
There is brief topless nudity in a couple of scenes where Penélope Cruz's character is either examining herself or being examined by the doctor.



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A Castellitto-family epic about motherhood - Venuto al mondo [2012 Italy, Spain]

Sergio Castellitto is among the few actors who've made a name for themselves as a film director. His latest drama, "Venuto al mondo" [Eng. Title: Twice Born], like the earlier Non ti mouvere, is yet another family project. Based on wife Margaret Mazzantini's novel and screenplay, and also starring his son Pietro, Castellitto and family have constructed a magnificent epic set against the backdrop of the Balkan conflict.

Storyline:
Gemma (Penélope Cruz), a middle-aged Italian woman takes her son Pietro (Pietro Castellitto) to Sarajevo, after being invited by old friend Gojco (Adnan Haskovic) for a photographic exhibition that will also feature Pietro's natural father, the American Diego's (Emile Hirsch) works. This is not Gemma's first visit to Sarajevo; her story, and Pietro's - unbeknown to him, share a deep connection with some of the momentous events in the Bosnian city's history, which we'll learn during the course of their journey.

Gemma first met Diego, a friend of Gojco, at a bohemian commune in Sarajevo during the late eighties, and instantly fell in love - just weeks before her marriage to someone else back in Rome. Predictably, that marriage won't last, and it is only a matter of time before the lovers unite and get married. But events in the early nineties will draw Diego and Gemma back to Sarajevo, where demands for secession from Yugoslavia grow louder by the day. It is during that visit that they meet Aska (Saadet Aksoy), a Muslim musician who comes forward to do the couple a personal favour - Gemma has after all not been able to deliver a child after several unsuccessful attempts...

It is during the second half that the film 'bursts into life'. We will witness the birth pangs of a nation, and Pietro's birth, amidst the carnage that ensues the siege of Sarajevo - quite poetic that a wannabe mother makes this extraordinary effort to bring a new life into the world, while many around her lose theirs.  The Italians are pretty good at these kind of epic sagas, as films such as Bertolucci's Il Conformista and Giordana's La meglio gioventù would testify. Sergio Castellitto has proven once again that he knows how to tell a story through compelling cinema. Using a global cast, he narrates the film using his characters' own natural languages - Italian, English, and Bosnian, and while it may require some getting used to, it is adequately compensated for through exquisite screenplay. The performance by the main cast is of high standard, but I was particularly impressed by Bosnian actor Adnan Haskovic who plays Gojco. This is a well made mainstream film that all in the family should be able to enjoy - Highly Recommended Viewing..!

Amazon DVD Link [PAL]

 

The Nudity: Penélope Cruz, Emile Hirsch, and Saadet Aksoy
The film features brief nudity from Penélope Cruz - first during a sex scene with Emile Hirsch (also nude), and later while vainly trying to breastfeed the baby. There is nudity also from Turkish actress Saadet Aksoy that'll culminate in a disturbing rape scene.



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Penélope Cruz & co in "Jamón Jamón" [1992 Spain]

It is the 100th Spanish language film to be reviewed in the blog - about time I introduced one major actress named Penélope Cruz here...

It's a special film too, for many reasons. Perhaps Bigas Luna's most widely known film outside Spain, "Jamón Jamón" [Eng. Title: Jamon Jamon] was also the cinema debut for Penélope Cruz, one which also saw her nominated for a Goya, and one which also introduced her to future husband Javier Bardem. Of course she'd go on to win many more awards including Oscar, but this is where it all began for an eighteen year old starlet.

And what a film too - completely twisted in Luna's inimitable style! Right from the first shot of the film - panning from behind a huge cut-out of a Spanish bull to reveal its cracked balls, this is a film teeming with machismo and testosterone, only to be mocked at the same time. He transgresses ingrained traditional values and customs by questioning their purpose, be it the courting ritual, their sense of honour, pride, and vengeance. The point the film tries to make is that we humans think we know what we want, but then again, we might not know for sure. This is told through a bizarre merry-go-around of coupling and sexual antics.

Storyline:
Silvia works at an underwear factory and is in love with José Luis, the owner's son, and he loves her back, also wanting to marry her. But this is vehemently opposed by his mum Concha, because Silvia's mother Carmen is a prostitute. Carmen and José Luis' father have a history too - they were once in love long ago - she turned to prostitution after they went their separate ways and her husband abandoned her and the child. Add to this, José Luis also visits Carmen to use her services from time to time. Concha plots to break the young couple apart, and hires Raúl, local hunk and ham delivery boy who also models for her male underwear. She instructs him to seduce Silvia. The plan works, initially, but when Concha starts having an affair with Raúl and wants him to end his relationship with Silvia, things become murky as they're both already in love. To complicate things further, Silvia is already pregnant through José Luis, whose father also wants to climb onto the merry-go-around now..!

One of Luna's trademarks is the manner in which he peruses food and sex to draw parallels with our desires - it is the humble ham this time, and is used in different ways, from an aphrodisiac to a weapon (strange scene that, where two men clobber each other with legs of ham to win the right to be with Silvia). Animals are used as a metaphor too - the obvious bull apart, you have a foul-mouthed parrot, a highly 'distressed' pig, and a persistent 'fly'! But as is with many of his films, the characterisation is incomplete, and it remains my main complaint with this director. But this is a remarkable and memorable film nevertheless, for both the strange scenes and dialogue. Another pleasant fact is the inclusion of Italian actresses Stefania Sandrelli and Anna Galiena among the main cast, both of whom have had the distinction of every nook and cranny of their respective bodies 'examined' in a Tinto Brass film. They're much more modest here, but nevertheless a welcome addition to the cast and therefore, Highly Recommended Viewing..!

I'm not terribly pleased with the quality of my bare-bones DVD as it hasn't been letter-boxed properly - forcing me to leave black borders in some scenes in the compilation. But at least it's not particularly expensive in Amazon for the moment.

Amazon DVD Link




Compilation: Penélope Cruz, Anna Galiena, and Stefania Sandrelli



Scene Guide:

• José Luis opines Silvia's breasts are just as delicious as her omelettes. He should know. Silvia is played by a young, enchanting, 'guapa' Penélope Cruz.
• No nudity - Silvia complaining to her mum Carmen that José Luis hasn't yet told his parents that he wants to marry her. Carmen is played by a favourite among French art-house directors, the very dishy Anna Galiena.
• Brief nudity, twisted scene - definitely worth checking. José Luis begs Carmen, his soon-to-be mother-in-law for sex one last time. She obliges. "Wacaaa..!" :D
• Silvia having a bizarre dream, with stray dogs, bulls, and you guessed, ham..!
• Concha with the hired local stud Raúl. She likes his package so much that she now wants him all for herself. Luna makes it a point to show Raúl struggling to get going at first. Concha is played by legendary Italian actress Stefania Sandrelli.
• But Silvia had already fallen in love with Raúl, and makes known her displeasure when José Luis tries to have sex with her under the bull. He leaves Silvia in the rain.
• Continued from above - Silvia walks dripping wet into the bar where Raúl is counting his good fortune with the fruit machine - and with Silvia, now the jackpot too. They're totally unmindful of other people at the bar.
• It's now Raúl's turn to judge Silvia's breasts - apparently they taste of both omelette and ham - he tucks in as if he was starving for days. Watched by the José Luis and mum Concha, each frustrated for different reasons.
• Concha manages to wrest Raúl back after promising him a Mercedes. José Luis barges into Raúl's warehouse to find his mother in bed with his enemy. If you watch carefully in a few frames only, Bardem must have been 'quite close' to Sandrelli at some point during the shoot. You'll know what I mean when you get to 13:25 mts. :)

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