After the success of his take on Moravia's "La Ciociara", (recently imported to America three years after its Euro debut), veteran director Mario Salieri follows up with this ill-advised version of Pasolini's "Mamma Roma" a movie that starred Anna Magnani 60 years earlier in a strong dramatic role. This sort of XXX remake has his fabulous star Roberta Gemma in the title role but is otherwise disappointing.
Beginning with an earthy, emotionally charged wedding reception (as did the PPP classic film), this 3-part tale of a prostitute, who suffers from a blackmailing pimp and works at improving her lot in life, becomes mechanical and tedious.
Problem is that Salieri, who takes a serious, often dour approach to dramatic storytelling, unfortunately delivers anti-erotic XXX scenes that seemingly defiantly oppose the industry standard of "chemistry" and sensuality. Gemma and her co-stars hump robotically, their characters not enjoying having sex (under duress) and the players likewise displaying suffering rather than passion.
Besides the buxom character actress Roberta, sporting old-age makeup in '90s-set present day scenes recalling in flashbacks her youth of decades earlier, voluptuous Cristina Miller offers the fans some welcome eye candy.
