Another memorably visual movie piece to add to this cult director's belt, and again, I was not disappointed, and more so appeased, as I really enjoyed this one, more than I thought I would, by some stretch. If you analyze the story, it actually makes sense. Let's face it, mother-son incest, is not too appealing, but this movie doesn't exploit, but more rationalize it, in a tame and poignant way. The wonderful Clayburgh, really carries this film, with such a roping performance, as a widowed mother and opera singer, who lost her husband (Gwynne) of all people, to a heart attack. She and young son, move to Italy, and it's not the best choice, as son merges with the wrong crowd of friends, and falls victim to heroin, supplied by a local town punk or playboy, who Clayburgh confronts later, and throws him an offer. Such a strong message is plastered across the screen about parent neglect, and we so much feel for the poor son, any mother would be proud to have, who's just drowning in a sea of self worthlessness, and there are moments, when we really hate Clayburgh's character, but we know why she has become, like this. The chosen locations of Italy are beautiful, especially the night shot ones. The opening scene, was beautifully shot and unexpecting, but totally pulled me in, part metaphor if you decide to watch this film , which I highly encourage you to do. Son and mother performance are equally impressive, and Clayburgh, is like a hot potato. You don't know how she'll react, and what she'll do next. The ending is mesmerizingly thought stirring, visually as well. I suggest you take a good look at La Luna. I'm glad I did. A stand alone, stylish, original treasure.

Jill Clayburgh is curiously cast as the opera-singing mother of a teenage heroin addict whose motherly warmth towards her son has sensual overtones; however, even within this loose, frenetic, decadent scenario, Clayburgh manages to make the role work for her. She's courageous and colorful, even if it is rather difficult to believe those boffo operatic notes are coming out of Jill's rail-thin frame. Bernardo Bertolucci's provocative, pithy, sad and beautiful film is really something else. Bertolucci doesn't have much to say about mother-son relationships (incestuous or otherwise),but his portrait of a boy falling into an abyss, into a dangerous garden of different stimuli, is quite beguiling. Critics were sharply divided on "Luna" at the time. The picture does have a tendency to stray; it's inscrutable and demanding--and yet, taken as a purely visceral experience, there are moments which are breathtaking. *** from ****

Opera singer Caterina Silveri's (Jill Clayburgh) husband dies in a car accident. She moves to Italy with her 15 year old son Joe (played by 17 year old Matthew Barry) to revive her career. She, not on purpose, begins to neglect Joe and he starts shooting up heroin. She finds out and doesn't know what to do. She ends up sleeping with him to get him off drugs! There's a LOT more to it than that but I wouldn't want to ruin it for anyone.

First off--the incest. It's hardly in the movie at all. It's not even the main plot--it's a sub plot! There are only two scenes and neither of them contain nudity or are explicit. Also Clayburgh and Barry don't even remotely resemble each other so it isn't that disturbing. The real plot deals with Joe feeling out of place and not knowing why and his mother dealing with her husband's death, starting her career AND her teenage son's addiction. The two actors work wonderfully together and make their mother/son relationship look realistic. The most shocking moment here is when they physically attack each other. The fight is obviously staged (you see Barry purposely missing Calyburgh when he tries to punch her) but the acting is good and the dialogue harsh. It's beautifully directed by Bertolucci with incredible settings and a stunning performance by Clayburgh. Still it's not a great movie. It goes on far too long (it's 150 minutes),Barry's obnoxious behavior got on my nerves quickly and it gets dull. Still it is beautifully done and worth watching for Clayburgh and Bertolucci's direction.

A bomb when it came out (because they kept pushing the incest plot) but worthy of some respect.