My Mother's Smile

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My Mother's Smile ★★ L'ora direligione; Il sorriso di mia madre 2002

Controversial drama about religion and family. Artist—and atheist—Ernesto (Castellitto) is disdainful when he learns from a church emissary that his deceased mother (Conti) is a candidate for canonization. Ernesto loathed his pious, cold mother, who was murdered by his mentally unstable brother, and his attitude deepens the rift with his family, who are looking at monetary and social gains should the beatification take place. Both melodramatic and mystical, the narrative is also sometimes puzzling. Italian with subtitles. 103m/C DVD . IT Sergio Castellitto, Jacqueline Lustig, Chiara Conti, Alberto Mondini, Gianni Schicchi, Maurizio Donadoni, Gigio Alberti; D: Marco Bellocchio; W: Marco Bellocchio; C: Pasquale Mari; M: Riccardo Giagni.