Adua and Her Friends - Raro Video (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Italy, 1960
Director: Antonio Pietrangeli
Writers: Ruggero Maccari, Tullio Pinelli, Ettore Scola, Antonio Pietrangeli
Cast: Simone Signoret, Sandra Milo, Emmanuelle Riva, Gina Rovere, Claudio Gora, Ivo Garrani, Gianrico Tedeschi, Marcello Mastroianni

Release Date: January 20th, 2015
Approximate Running Time: 125 minutes 7 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / VC-1
Rating: NR
Sound: LPCM Mono Italian
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $29.95

"Four prostitutes forced to fend for themselves when a new law closes the bordellos of Rome. They pool their savings to open a trattoria, but find they cannot get a license. A prominent fixer with connections obtains the license for them, on the condition that they conduct their old business upstairs and pay him an exorbitant monthly fee." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 3.25/5

Here’s the information provided about the transfer, "New HD transfer digitally restored."

Adua and Her Friends comes on a 25 GB single layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 22.7 GB

Feature: 21.3 GB

While this new transfer is an improvement over Raro’s DVD release, it suffers from sharpening and scanner noise. Flesh tones look healthy, image clarity and black levels are strong, and there are no issues with compression.

Audio: 5/5

This release comes with one audio option, a LPCM mono mix in Italian with English subtitles. The track sounds excellent; dialogue always comes through clearly, everything sounds balanced, and the score sounds appropriately robust. The English subtitles can only be turned on or off in the setup menu, not during playback.

Extras:

Extras for this release include an introduction by film critic Maurizio Porro (6 minutes 57 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Italian with non-removable English subtitles), a segment titled Girandola 1910 from Amori di mezzo secolo directed by Antonio Pietrangeli (10 minutes 31 seconds, 1.37:1 aspect ratio, 480 interlaced, Dolby Digital mono Italian with removable English subtitles), a slipcover, and a 12-page booklet with an essay titled prospectus written by Bruno Di Marino, a text bio, and a filmography for Antonio Pietrangeli and quotes about the film from various critics.

Summary:

Antonio Pietrangeli directed Adua and Her Friends. He’s known for The Bachelor, Ghosts of Rome, The Girl from Parma, The Visit, The Magnificent Cuckold, and I Knew Her Well.

A new law leads to the closure of all legalized brothels, making all prostitution illegal. Now out of work and with nowhere to live, four prostitutes pool together their money and open a restaurant in the remote countryside. Unfortunately, their tainted past intersects with the new life they are trying to forge. Down, but not out, they reach out to an old associate, who helps them secure the license they need to open their restaurant. Only in order for them to pay this associate back are they forced back into the life they are trying to leave behind.

The opening setup does a phenomenal job introducing the four main characters and the life they are leaving behind. From there, the narrative shifts into a character-driven melodrama that provides each of these four characters' stories an ample amount of time to develop. The narrative hits its stride after it moves away from the brothel, and it effectively builds to an exemplary finale where the four main characters' lives have come full circle.

Aqua is the eldest member of this quartet, and she often serves as the mother-like figure, who makes sure that everything that needs to be done is taken care of. Lolita is a free-spirited flirt who has a boyfriend that often tries to get her involved in his latest financial schemes. Marina is the most unpredictable of these four characters. She often suffers from mood swings. She is also the only character who has a child. Rounding out this quartet of characters is Milly, whose naivety leads to her losing her one chance at happiness.

Adua and Her Friends features a remarkable cast who are excellent in their roles, especially the four leads: Simone Signoret (Les diaboliques), Adua and her three friends; Sandra Milo (Juliet of the Spirits); Lolita, Emmanuelle Riva (Hiroshima Mon Amour); Marilina and Gina Rovere (Big Deal on Madonna Street); and Milly. Another performance of note is Marcello Mastroianni's (8 ½) understated portrayal of Piero, a playboy hustler, who becomes involved with Adua.

There is not an area where this film does not excel. The premise is superbly realized, and the narrative is flawlessly executed. Another strength of the narrative is how well it holds your attention for its 2-hour-plus duration. While the visuals mostly let the performances be the focal point, there are a handful of striking moments. Piero Piccioni’s (The 10th Victim) score perfectly reinforces the mood.

While Adua and Her Friends is a story about four prostitutes, there is no nudity or sexual acts by these four characters in the entire film. They are presented as well-rounded characters with unique personalities and aspirations of a life beyond the one they are trapped in. That said, for every action, there are consequences, and ultimately it is from our actions that destiny is forged. Here lies the underlying theme that runs throughout Adua and Her Friends. Ultimately, Adua and Her Friends is an extraordinary critique of how society exploits marginalized people.

Adua and Her Friends get a disappointing release from Raro Video.

Written by Michael Den Boer