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Rating: Malia - Virgin Named Mary (pseudo-review)
A few nights ago, thanks to the series held at Lomax, I watched "Malia - Virgin Named Mary," a film by Sergio Nasca from 1975.
Now, it might have been the prayers to the diVine Syrah, it might have been the appearance of Saint Marijuana Virgin, but I found it literally spectacular!!!!!!
Set in the slums/outskirts of Turin inhabited by southerners a few decades ago, this film mixes integration, social issues, religion, and the media spotlight on events.
The story in brief is about a young girl named Maria, whom the mother claims to be a "saint" because she can predict the future (actually, the trances are nothing but epileptic fits caused by touching exposed electrical wires)... This girl coincidentally named Maria, though chaste and pure, becomes pregnant, and as luck would have it, the birth of the child is predicted for the end of December.. and from there obviously.. devotion, superstition, and most of all... the DESPERATION OF THE POOR PEOPLE... it's a miracle!!
Because you can say what you want but only desperation, great difficulties, and need make people scream MIRACLE.
Of course, given the technical means of a film from '75 and surely not heavily financed seen as at the time (and I don't think it would be different today) it was obviously opposed, censored, and banned for a few years... the film to me seemed very well made.
Worthy of the best Pasolini, or even if no one is offended, probably we're a bit beyond here ;-)
A realism, a rawness as well as great simplicity in portraying a topic so delicate...
Every scene told a story, with that tragicomic part that makes the film entertaining and therefore very enjoyable too
...needing to find a husband for the holy virgin... "there's Peppino, he's a carpenter... perfect!!! As the scriptures say"
Magnificent is the little girl who, when she understands what’s going on, goes from being exploited to being treated like a queen with everyone at her orders groveling at her feet (her mother first of all!!!).. because she is a Saint
And then the figure of the priest, who at first is the most reasonable of all criticizing even the mother who deliberately induced those seizures, and then imagine... the holy spirit...(obviously he's the first not to believe it) only to then ride the event that led to a sold-out at the various masses in a previously always empty church... Until the clash with the higher ecclesiastical hierarchies... of course, needless to say, they talk for themselves.
BEAUTIFUL ONE OF HIS FINAL PHRASES!!!!!!!!
And all in all even the final decision of the priest who, paying personally for "not having managed the matter" decides to remain among his people to take care of their bodies if he could no longer care for their souls because surely the bishop wouldn't have done so.
In short, in my opinion, the film is truly deserving, profound, deals with interesting topics, makes you reflect on many things... and it's even fun, I laughed a lot.
If you get the chance, even if I guess it's not easy to find, WATCH IT!!
For those in Catania... on Thursdays at Lomax
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