Tre donne - L'automobile

The Automobile (1971). The legendary Anna Magnani stars in this made-for-television production about a woman's yearning for independence. Magnani's character is a feisty ex-prostitute enjoying a nightly routine of alcohol, dancing and nightclubs in an urban setting. Still, she feels a nagging emptiness in her life, a void which she determines can only be filled with-a new car. With the help of her old friend Giggetto (Vittorio Caprioli), Anna secures the banana yellow convertible of her dreams and learns to drive. It's strange to think that the "shocking" idea of a single woman owning her own car is enough to carry an entire film (I suppose it was more resonant in early '70s Italian society), but Magnani is good enough to carry it off. Many scenes have the actor simply voicing her character's inner thoughts while she's seen roaming the streets, which sounds dull but it's actually mesmerizing. The easy-going story takes an odd turn into the suspenseful-tragic near the end. A good vehicle, so to speak, for Magnani. As for Ennio Morricone's score, it's a good one. This is one of 24 (!!!) films the maestro worked on in that year alone. His music is heard in about one-third of the film; Morricone even scores the groovy dance music played by a combo at the discotheque Magnani frequents. I especially enjoyed the bright theme Morricone used to convey the joy Magnani experiences being able to tool her spiffy convertible around town for the first time.