Oops. What I meant by that phrase is that there are two things that she didn't show or that she didn't do that I would question or wonder about regardless of the era she lived in. Or, to express it another way, even though she lived in the 1920s, 30s, 40s, and 50s, I don't think these two things were impossible for her to do. They just would have shown how unique she was as a person had she been able to edge in a little modernity, even if it was only when her husband wasn't around.

Or, to make it simpler yet, leave out the phrase "independent of her era" altogether, and I still stand by my post.

I realize (from reading past posts) that in the book, Mama is much more aware. But my focus was just on the Mama we see in the movie. I wonder if in the book, before an hysterical Connie confronts Michael about Carlo's death, Mama argued with her and tried to tell her "you're wrong."

My point is that Mama indeed did not know any better and was typical of the era, as you state. BUT some people use accolades to describe her like strong, remarkable, wise, no nonsense, etc. Since she behaved like any other traditional immigrant Italian housewife, I don't see her as particularly exceptional. What I AM saying is that Mama would be more deserving of those descriptions if she had gone against tradition in some small way, taken one baby step toward independent thinking. THEN I could call her remarkable or strong or admirable for doing that.