Mama (1976)

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!

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.

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).

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.