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Italian director Nanni Moretti's "Mia Madre (My Mother)" tries to squeeze two movies — a heavy drama and a satirical comedy — into one, but the parts never jell.
Movie director Margherita (played by Margherita Buy) is trying to juggle a tough film shoot with her family troubles, namely the failing health of her mother, Ada (Guilia Lazzarini), a retired Latin teacher. When Margherita isn't at the hospital with her brother, Giovanni (played by Moretti), discussing Ada's treatment, she's trying to film a movie about a factory labor dispute and massaging the ego of her visiting American star, Barry Huggins (played by John Turturro).
Moretti (who won the Palme D'Or for "The Son's Room") is one of five credited writers on this script, which caroms wildly from the deep sadness of Margherita's care for her mother to a "30 Rock"-like comedy as she handles a boorish movie star. Buy gives a moving performance, but she's a victim of a director trying to go in too many directions at once.
'Mia Madre (My Mother)'
Opens Friday, Sept. 30, at the Broadway Centre Cinemas; rated R for language; in Italian with subtitles; 106 minutes.