Mary Forever

1989 1h 42m IT

👍

7.4

SOLID

★7.4TMDB · 246

CrimeDrama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Marco, a teacher from Milan, relocates to Palermo and takes a temporary job teaching in a juvenile detention centre while he waits for a high school teaching position. He tries to understand and motivate his handful of students, encouraging them to stand up for their rights, finding out about their histories: Natale, in for murder and enamored with the Mafia; Pietro, who can't seem to stay out of jail; Claudio, barely 14 and learning to stand up for himself; and Mery, a trans sex worker, who was arrested after a fight with a trick who didn't want to pay her, and is now stuck in a male prison.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Michele Placido
Marco Terzi
Claudio Amendola
Pietro Giancona
Francesco Benigno
Natale Sperandeo
Alessandra Di Sanzo
Mario 'Mery' Libassi
Tony Sperandeo
Turris
Roberto Mariano
Antonio Patanè
Maurizio Prollo
Claudio Catalano
Filippo Genzardi
Matteo Mondello

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Marco Risi
Writers: Sandro Petraglia, Stefano Rulli, Aurelio Grimaldi
Languages: Italian
Countries: Italy

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 6

ERA

Did you know

37 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 6

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Marco Risi, shot by Mauro Marchetti. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 6

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Giancarlo Bigazzi. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 6

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Claudio Di Mauro shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 6

CAST

Did you know

Michele Placido and Claudio Amendola and Francesco Benigno carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 6

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0097870 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Marco Risi directs. Mauro Marchetti behind the camera. Giancarlo Bigazzi scores. Claudio Di Mauro cuts. Produced in Italy. Dialogue in Italian.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

137 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
2Directed by Marco Risi, shot by Mauro Marchetti. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
3Original score by Giancarlo Bigazzi. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
4Editor Claudio Di Mauro shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
5Michele Placido and Claudio Amendola and Francesco Benigno carry the top of the cast.
6IMDB entry: tt0097870 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
7Classified under 10 themes, including "rape", "transvestite", "teacher", "prostitution".