DVD Review: L'AUTOMOBILE

Among RaroVideo USA's latest offerings is the TV film L'Automobile starring Anna Magnani. I wish I could inject a little bit of insight into this film, but I really don't know where to go with it. The film is an interesting document of the actress in her later years as well as a commentary on early '70s gender politics, but it doesn't really get exciting at all until the very end. The result is a very workmanlike film that lacks any kind of visual flourish or significant action. While I was watching it, I enjoyed it, but looking back I can't really understand why. That being said, this film is a bit of a rarity and Raro's DVD is very good looking considering the source.

Anna Mastronardi (Magnani) is a prostitute of advanced years in 1971 Italy who decides one day to purchase a car. The car is more of a symbol than anything else, it represents freedom to her, a freedom she's never had. The car will allow her to come and go as she pleases, at any time, in any direction. The first half of the film chronicles her decision making process and her consulting with her associates, but it is the second half of the film that really makes the experience worthwhile.

On her maiden solo voyage, Mastronardi runs into a couple of charming gentlemen who make a pass at her and eventually beg a ride from her, an offer which the aging and rather vain Mastronardi accepts. Unfortunately, one of the vagabonds decides that he won't go anywhere unless he's driving, at which point he takes Anna on a ride she'll never forget. Some pretty reckless driving follows and at the end, it doesn't seem that Anna ever wants to get behind the wheel again, and you won't blame her for a second.

Magnani's performance is predictably powerful, and she proves, even in her twilight years, to be a force in front of the camera. The film is all about her and womanhood in Italy at the time during the twilight between generations. The era of Women's Liberation is in full swing, and Mastronardi is a relic of bygone days attempting to spice up her life a bit. The prospect of freedom intrigues and beckons her, but it comes with consequences that very few people would sign on for if given the knowledge. Ever scene features Magnani, and she commands the camera like few others, she, along with Sophia Loren, is one of Italy's great cinematic legacies.

L'Automobile is a strange little beast. A film that most likely would never have been made as a theatrical feature, L'Automobile works as a kind of exploitation/Lifetime movie. It's really hard to explain the tone of the film, as I never really grasped it myself. This film was Magnani's last great performance and has remained very little seen outside of Italy, so RaroVideo's presentation is most welcome. Recommended.

The Disc:

L'Automobile, like Fellini's The Clowns, began its life as a TV film, which means that it was shot natively in 4:3 for the contemporary TV size. The image presented by Raro is remarkably clean and colorful, and probably more impressive than their initial DVD release of The Clowns. The audio is pretty decent, although there isn't much action to be found, however, the dialogue comes through quite clearly.

Lamentably, the main extras are text based and are housed on the disc as DVD-ROM material. This is an odd choice, and one of which I'm not fond. One of the things I've looked forward to most with Raro releases are the nice booklets, and the lack of one here is a bit of a bummer. There is also a decent video introduction by Mario Sesti, but it doesn't make up for the lack of easily accessible context for the film.

L'Automobile is a weird one. Not quite a drama, not quite an action film, not really much of anything, but still interesting once it kicks into gear. Hardcore Italian film fans will want to pick this one up, but if you're unfamiliar with the period and/or style, you may want to sit this one out.