Ma-ma (1976) User Reviews

Wonderful movie, but...

[advanmaar · 9/10 · 17 January 2012]

Wonderful movie, but...

Why is this considered a Russian movie?

The producers are Romania Film, Mosfilm and Ralux Film, The story is based on the fairy tale „Capra cu trei iezi" by the Romanian author Ion Creangă, the music is composed by Temistocle Popa, the costumes designed by Florina Tomescu are based on the Romanian traditional clothes, Maramureş type, also the setting is based on traditional villages from Maramureş and the director is Romanian: Elisabeta Bostan. Cinematography, Film Editing, Production Design in all of these the Russians had a minor role if any at all. Yes, the leading roles are played by Russian actors and the movie was somehow distributed to the west by the Russians but I think those that created the movie deserve at least some credit.

I think for most of the Romanians who saw this decades ago as well as for those that saw this today will be quite confusing that this is considered a Russian movie.

The movie you want to show your kids

[apeiron8 · 9/10 · 22 June 2007]

This movie is one of my all-time greats with a gripping tale, actually rather good music and fine performances. And anyone who's seen it even once will sing at least part of "Momy's home" and get tears in their eyes. Technically it had a few flaws in the English version, so I jack my rating down to 9 for that. Those flaws should be easy to fix on a DVD release, though.

But most of all, this is a movie I would love to show my children. A real movie (as opposed to what TV is showing too much of these days) yet with appeal to kids both in my time and in the present. If you like (and remember) this movie, you should also have a look at "Three nuts for Cinderella" (http://imdb.com/title/tt0070832/), a far superior version of the Cinderella tale.

Still one of the greatest, I have seen.

[svdinter-1 · 9/10 · 10 June 2007]

I was about ten, eleven years old, when I have seen this musical for the first time. Now after 28 years I have seen it again, and still it makes me happy. this is a great movie/musical to see, wonderful. It's the story about the bad wolf , Titi Suru, and is friends, who want's to have the little goat's and ask Rada (ma-ma goat) for ransom. A story everybody know's. The music is really fantastic, from rock, to classic and between. the actors and actress are from the Moscow ice circus, and you will see that. The dancing and skating is really great. One thing, that's a Minor point. There's no DVD. Well only the Russian version is on DVD. It's different from the English one. Yep there are two versions. I hope, that the English version comes out on DVD.

Stille after so many years, I enjoined.

Please, bring it out!!!

An enchanting film combining beautiful costumes, fun music and excellent ballet performance

[natalivogue · 10/10 · 5 March 2005]

I saw this film as a child in a small town cinema in Soviet Union, was completely mesmerised by it and since then was looking for it everywhere. Finally, we managed to get a video from Romania. I was so happy. It's an enchanting, original, musical fairy-tale with a bit of rock'n'roll. The costumes and the music are Romanian indeed, but there are also wonderful Russian actors in main roles. I especially love Mihail Boyarski as the bad guy - the Wolf. There's also a ballet performance from Bolshoi, and beautiful ballet on ice from Moscow. The film just has so much beauty and energy in it. I recommend it to all children and their parents. Unforgettable experience!

Great movie, great music (contact address for people interested)

[thepts · 4 September 2003]

This is not my typical film at all; a baltic/russian musical movie for children, with rock'n'roll music..

I don't like musicals much, and I grew up with everything being rock/pop, so I don't like rock much either. But this movie is great.. maybe it's because I watched it as a kid? The movie has got that magical touch, and a strange, mystical tone to it. It was certainly scary the first time I saw it. And the music is gripping, even though it's, as said, not my style at all. I would like to see/hear it again to see if it is as special as I remember it.

Also, I see other people are interested in seeing it again. It's important in the DVD era not to let old movie gems disappear before they can get into DVD print, so I decided to see if it was possible to trace it.

After some searching on the web, eventually using the name of the guy playing the wolf, Titi Suru (Mikhail Boyarsky), I found a contact address (seemingly a friend of his) which I tried, and luckily, this person got me in contact with the russian television company TVIN which are now distributing the rights (and are interested in making a DVD, depending on interest).

A beautiful Romanian story

[andradiana2000 · 10/10 · 1 February 2005]

Mama is the movie of my childhood. I went maybe 20 times at the theater to watch it as a child. The characters, the story, the music, the ice skating ballet... they all make a perfect picture. Some say it's a Russian picture. The main characters are played by Russian actors: Ludmila Gurchenko and Mihail Boyarsky. Yuri Entin is one of the writers. Tha "Balsoi" Ballet Group, The Moskow Circus and The Children Ice Ballet were used for the dancing and ice skating scenes. And oh, what a great job they did! But I consider it a Romanian picture. The director, Elisabeta Bostan (a great director for children movies) is Romanian. Half of the cast is Romanian. The story is Romanian - Ion Creanga's 'The Goat With Three Bucks' (Ion Creanga is a great Romanian storyteller, I consider him Romania's Hans Christian Andersen). The costumes that the Goat and the 5 Bucks are wearing are traditional Romanian costumes. And the music is so Romanian... I saw the Romanian version. I was impressed how the Russian actors seemed to speak Romanian (their voices were obviously dubbed, but still, it looked like they were speaking Romanian!). I have a four years old daughter. I was thrilled to find Mama on VSH Tape in a gas station. And now I can't stop my little girl to watch it over and over again. The picture works like a charm on the new generation also.

great movie mummy

[cecielcrousen · 10/10 · 1 February 2005]

Rock and roll wolf was my favorite movie when I was a child! I saw it once or twice on the Dutch television. I especially liked the songs and the fairy-tale. I've been looking for it for years, trying to call the television and so on. I even thought I only dreamed it, because nothing of all this worked. But how could I remember such details like the title? Luckily I found this site and I know now it really exists. As I have now a child of my own and another one on its way I would love to show it to them one day. Can anyone help me with a DVD or VHS-video? I would be very grateful! Thank you very much,

Ceciel Crousen, Holland

A wonderful musical/movie for children (and adults)!

[gangerolf-1 · 10/10 · 28 March 2008]

What can I say?... This is a unique musical/movie from the mid 70's, made in the eastern Europe, that I would recommend to everyone, especially children. It will touch them/you for life! It's not only fantastic songs (like the title "Ma-Ma"), that will stick in your brain for ever, there is also great dancing and skating that fit very well with the story. This is far superior to Hollywood productions, and so on.

The details of the houses in the village (and other scenes), and their originality, the great costumes and characters, makes this a joy to watch. Also, the use of lighting, colors, and special effects, makes it a visual gem.

The story is quite simple but very gripping. With the music, it's hard to not get a tear in your eye.

I watched it recently on Norwegian television with both children and adults. The children switched from hiding behind the sofa, being sad, to dancing around in the living room in joy. The adults (including me) started, almost at the same time, to sing or hum the title melody when it came. Even though I saw it the first time in the early 80's (I think), I still love it, and now I can really appreciate the quality of the dancing and skating, making it even better.

There were made at least two versions of this musical at the same time (not dubbed); One Russian and a English version. The English version is not perfectly clipped or synced (speach/sound), but good enough (originally).

The big problem today, is that the copies TV stations have is of poor quality (sound/picture), at least here in Norway. Also, they are in 4:3 format, and not cinematic like the original (widescreen). VHS copies (with English sound) is rear, and I don't think there is released a DVD version.

Here in Norway this musical is a classic. It was shown on national TV during the 80's until mid 90's, but have started again now (at Christmas time), and will probably do so the next years. That's the nice thing about classics, you never forget them, and you still want to watch them. Like this one.

If you haven't seen it, please do, especially if you have children.

I give it 10/10 because of the original English version. I will not reduce my vote because of the TV stations bad copy (and not cinematic/widescreen).

Childhood classic!

[kimrog03 · 7/10 · 31 January 2004]

This musical sure brings back some childhood memories! The classic song "Mom is home" is the one that I remember best, but I quickly recognized the other songs when I watched it again at the age of 27. The only thing that bugs me about the movie is that it's not always clear what's happening on the screen: the editing could have been better. But who cares, the visuals are stunning, the make-up and the sets are really cool, and so is the dancing and singing. I don't know if the movie is available to buy or rent, I've only seen it on television (dubbed in English).

Great Musical Film

[mist · 10/10 · 20 August 2003]

I remember this film from my childhood years...

It was shown on Swedish TV and i loved it. I still remember some of the songs - and some of the girls - and would give a lot to see it again.

As one speaker said before; Great films (for children) during this period, from the east block.....

Interested in seeing this on DVD?

[ekveland · 10/10 · 27 November 2005]

When is this ever coming out on DVD? There's a huge untapped nostalgic market waiting for you in Norway and Sweden. TVIN, the Russian TV-company who owns the rights to this, are you listening?

If you are interested in seeing this come out on DVD, you can mail your interest in the DVD to: [e-mail]

Their contact page can be found at: http://www.tvin.ru/cgi-bin/section.cgi?IdS=15

Please do not force us into piracy just to watch this great piece of work. Bring Christmas of days past into our hearts again! Songs like "Mommy" are forever classics, and so is this tale.

Fine tale in Russian style :p)

[Driad · 16 October 1999]

It's nice and impressive tale about Wolf, little Goats, their Mummy and more animals, such as Parrot or Bears :) Terrific duet of L.Gurchenko and M.Boyarsky, especially their "fight" on the ice, as far as I remember. Also: good songs, nice acting... Well, it's just the proper movie for all family. I liked it. P.S. Why there are no comments of Russian, Lithuanian movies? Doesn't anyone think some of these are really good???

The English version is a different movie

[henkelman · 10/10 · 6 June 2005]

What this movie make one of the finest is that the tunes and scenes are staying for years in your brain. When I see the movie last month after 25 years, it was like I have seen it a week before. So it did a lot to me in those days when I looked with my children at the musical. You can almost not believe that the leading actress and actors are now at the age of 70. So time flies. I almost looked for 25 years. I once had that movie on beta max tape but I lost it. Now Ihave the English version and the Russian one. I always though the voices were dubbed on the English movie, but that's not true, it are two complete different movies, with a different camera view. Does anyone know if there is a soundtrack for sale of this great musical? The English version I have is not one of the best, so I still am looking for a VHS with a better quality. Maybe someone knows a store? I hope that someday a DVD will be for sale.

And, I found the movie "Godspell" after 25 years again.

Wonderful

[moerlind · 10/10 · 8 September 2003]

It grieves me to see A-Moe steal one of the greatest lines/songs from this great musical...This musical ment so much to me when I saw it in '94 here in Oslo...

"Mommy's home. Now you can open the door. Don't be afaid now, not anymore. Mom is home. She's brought for each one of you strawberry, coated with honeydew.Only you and I can sing this song that noone knows. Listen to each word carefully. And before you all come running quickly to the door. Be sure the only one you open for is me."

It simply puts tears in my eyes.

I will always love this movie!

[MissOddidity · 10/10 · 2 December 2011]

This is my "happy place" in form of a movie, when I was a kid and now as a grown up. I think I watched it about 50 times and I'll never get tired of it! The story, the acting the singing and dancing are all so beautiful and moving and nothing compares to it... I find myself singing the songs, and everyone that hears ask me what I'm singing. It's a shame there's not been a DVD release of it! I had to hunt down a bad VHS copy of it. This is a movie I want to recommend and show to generations to come as sort of an legacy of my own childhood. My mother got it for me when I was little, and it was the English version, and I am amazed to fin out that they taped it in 3 languages simultaneously. Do watch it, enjoy all the fantastic stories, the music, the clothes and the characters. Not just the main characters but everyone from the donkey to the bears to the birds are fantastic! This movie is a real gem!

breaking out of excellent

[carlmarxsocialclub · 10/10 · 31 May 2015]

Well, it's a Russian-Romanian movie or Romanian-Russian as you like, produced by Romanian television and Mosfilm. I neither not know who and how much has contributed in it, nor I'm going to ponder on this, because Romanian television and Mosfilm did together a mega-work. If you want to have the authorship for individual strokes on the masterpiece canvas,go ahead, but I prefer to enjoy the canvas and to praise Mosfilm and Romanian television, may they both long live. As Russian I see our all-time mega-actors in the leading roles of wolf, mama goat, bears, one of the wolf's sidekicks, and I enjoy their acting as well as I enjoy the entire movie as one great piece of story telling, artistry, music, ballet, costumes, setting, you name it. All actors in the movie are up to their roles and do a fantastic performance. The original story is obviously Romanian, because Russian story of "Mama goat and seven bucks" has a different ending without gold ransom episode, leaving this alone the story is almost the same - bad wolf ends his life in fire pit. The Romanian ending of wolf's following the sack of gold into the icy river creates richer allusions, I think. They say Romanian television made the character's costumes,so I'm interested was it on purpose they added some gay details in the wolf's costume ? When wolf Suru sings in Russian "Grey wolf is innocent like a child" this makes me think it is more than a well-rhymed line. BTW I normally don't recognize such thing as musical, and I think rock'n'roll is not an appropriate music. And first I was prejudiced against this movie for much rock music is there. But giving myself a time to watch it to the end I found that this rich and deep mega-work is somehow an exception. How they did it ? Аsk Romanian television and Russian Mosfilm.

Best children movie ever!!

[musika1220-1 · 10/10 · 21 September 2006]

I own the french version on VHS. I taped it when it was on TV 20 years ago. I intend to transfer it on DVD once I buy the transferring device (hope soon). I've been looking to buy the movie for a very long time with no success BUT I have been lucky this week... I have found a place where to buy the original version on VHS (better to buy the Russian version on VHS than nothing at all)... so I just ordered it yesterday. Words cannot describe how I LOVE this movie. I have made this movie known to so many people around me... they all know the songs by heart just like me :) Everything is perfect in that movie... story, songs, makeup, costumes, creative set, etc... I can go on and on. Oh well, you know what I mean 'cause you are all fans just like me :)

Let's just pray that the DVD version (in every languages) becomes available soon!

Nathalie Québec, Canada

Fabulous Family picture

[pabsmtl · 10/10 · 12 August 2000]

I have seen this movie 2 times twenty years ago, and have been trying to get my hands on it ever since. Now that I have a daughter, this movie with the nice lullaby sung by mommy to her little children would be so nice for her. It happens that my wife has seen it when she was younger and we have both been trying to remember the words to sing to her. The costumes are beautiful and well chosen. All the animals" do just enough to stay in character and make it feel "real". All the songs are poetic and filled with musical hooks that make them easy enough to remember. Lastly, I could go on for days about the ice skating segments but suffice it to say that if this movie was shown in the states it could become a Christmas favorite, the songs are in English.

Now, if anyone knows of a way I could get my hands on a copy, be VHS, DVD, or 16mm film, please contact me !!!! I don't care if it be NTSC or Pal-Secam. I just want that movie for my wife, and me, but especially for my 5 year old daughter.

Finally I found it !

[Nikiuno · 1 May 2004]

Hi, I finally found a russian-language version of MA-MA. The movie has still the same fascination as seen several years ago while I was young. I searched all over romania, but I was not able to find a version woth the original, romanian language. If you like Ma-Ma you need to see "VERONICA". I am very sorry that the romanian film-industrie is not able to provide new films with the quality of the movies from the years between 1970-80. I hope that sometimes these old movies will be released on DVD. Maybe someone will remaster these old movies and bring them back on the big screen. Thanks Bye NIKI

wonderful movie, great childhood memories! love, love, love it!!!!

[g_girl118 · 10/10 · 29 July 2006]

My grandfather had this movie on a beta tape and my brother and I watched it every time we were at my grandparents' house, which was pretty much every school vacation and holiday. I could never get enough of it and it is for sure my favorite childhood movie. It brings back lots of wonderful memories. I watched so many times, that the tape is in poor condition now. I hadn't seen the movies in decades, but once in a while I thought about it and wished and wondered if there was a way to get it on VHS or DVD. After my grandfather past away 2 years ago, I started to bug my dad, to see if he could make me a copy on DVD somehow. It wasn't easy since I grew up in Holland and am now living in the united states and the systems aren't always compatible. Well, he managed to get me the copy and at first it wouldn't play, but I tried it again recently on my powerbook and it worked, jippie. From copying the quality hasn't gotten any better, but it is watchable. I can't wait to show it to my 1 year old daughter, when she 's a little older. It would be great if it was for sale one day, in good shape, I know it would mean a lot to many people. It's too great to keep from our next generation and ourselves. I have an English copy with dutch sub-titles, again not in great condition, but watchable. so, if anyone has info let me know, thanks so much. :)

Widen your horizons

[berenxx · 10/10 · 25 April 2003]

I hope every moviemaker of the future gets to see this film. It is incredible and just proves how many hidden treasures there are in east-european cinema.

Alas how to find it is the tricky part. Here in Norway it was shown on national television a lot in the late 80s and early 90s but not in later years. I'm trying to find out if it is available or will be available on dvd.

If anyone knows please let me know.

Great great movie

[pysj · 10/10 · 4 June 2005]

I give this a ten. Yes it's partly because I saw it several times as a child, so you do get a bit nostalgic when something reminds you of your childhood. In my case this has also very much to do with the music and of course the universal themes of mother/children and good/bad.

When I see this movie as an grown-up, I can understand why this make so much effect on both children and adults. It has everything you can fantasize about. Great acting and choreography, and all the small and great details in costumes and makeup. The actors facial expressions are spot on for the animals they are playing. As a child you connect to them at once. The story is just as clever, funny, warm and a bit scary as you would expect from an old fairy-tale. On top of this you have the excellent music. It has a few melodies that you can remember for 20 years after just one or two listens. It has classical music, a bit rock'n roll, musical like, lullaby, disco, East-European... It never gets boring.

This movie just has the magic soul that can touch you and stay in your heart for ever. Not many movies can do that. Not to me at least.

NB: Funny how much 'top 1000 voters' are weighted on IMDb :(

When I write this, this movie has 7.7 (133 votes). The ratings 1,2,3 and 4 have only 4 votes. 2 of those 4 votes are top 1000 voters. Incredible 70% gives this movie a ten. 94% of 133 voters give this movie 8 or more. Still it's weighted 7.7 only because of two top 1000 voters...

For those interested - I bought it on DVD!

[vadallen · 10/10 · 4 May 2011]

Hi, I am writing only because so many people on IMDb wanted to have it. Being a Russian-speaking person I could not imagine so many viewers around the world appreciate it so much! You guys made me feel sentimental together with the movie because I just bought it here in USA for my son after 30 years when I saw it. It's the Russian language version, but the video and sound quality is better than I expected. At least the music is still the same as you remember it - great! By the way L. Gurchenko(Mama goat) recently died in the age of 75, RIP. So, you can try the web-site "from Russia - dot - com" (it's in English), but write the link together as one word (IMDB system did not take it as one). The DVD is NTSC, $14.99 (plus shipping). Good luck and write me if there is a problem - may be I will help.

Fantastic, would like to have it

[fransvanpassel · 10/10 · 30 December 2002]

I would like very much to see that musical again and with me many,many others, I am sure. Is there anyone, who want to share this film with me? It was on dutch television somewhere in the eighties.

It's nice to see Mama again :)

[webspider-1 · 10/10 · 29 August 2005]

This is great movie. I saw it in my childhood and several times after that. The music is wonderful, costumes are beautiful (none the worse than in The Wizard of Oz), and songs... mmmm.... they are just unforgettable. I've always thought that it's a Russian movie (Russian lead actors, songs and so on), but not long ago I saw it again and find out, that director is Romanian, and there are 3 different versions of this film (Russian, Romanian and English). I didn't see English version but as I know it's quite different. As I see, many people in Europe looking for Rock'n'Roll Wolf (Mama) - so may be I can help you :) I have the Russian one (whithout any subtitles unfortunately).

By the way - there is a short cartoon, with the same idea, with nice rock-n-roll music too. "Mama" was based on this cartoon. If you interested in it - feel free to contact me :)

Dmitry Russia