Salò o le 120 giornate di Sodoma (1975)
Pier Paolo Pasolini's ultimate film is one of the most gruelling and disturbing films you are ever likely to see. It contains sadism, rough homosexual sex, rape, acts of cruelty, graphic violence, coprophagia and other obscenities. How can such an abhorrent motion picture be interpreted, understood, respected, appreciated? Firstly, Pasolini's picture gets credit for being a daring, mad outcry about life, society all processed in this tortuous film. Salò takes place in 1943-1944 in the miniature Fascist State established in the North of Italy by Benito Mussolini, after his retreat from Rome. The film's most evident undertone that I can notice is a graphic examination of how absolute power corrupts absolutely. 4 powerful Fascist Libertines make an agreement to go on an odyssey of debauchery, by seizing 18 good looking, healthy male and female teenagers and subjecting them to 120 days of mental, physical and sexual torture (120 Days of Sodom). The film is divided in three acts: 'Circle of Mania', 'Circle of Sh*t' and the 'Circle of Blood' - the film is increasingly unbearable to watch and as you watch this film you will wonder what its point is, if there is one, and you might be right to revile it. I felt shocked, disgusted, but intrigued by some of the strangely haunting qualities of this cruel motion picture, examining the potential infinity of human madness and savagery.
The film shows nudity, sex, rape and many other things, but not even for 1 second will you feel even remotely aroused. Pier Paolo Pasolini expertly films every sexual scene with a cold and ruthless detachment, opting for long shots in many scenes. Sex in this film is not the respectable union of two bodies, and the human body is not respected but rather 'consumed' by the despicable, amoral libertines.
This is a uniquely bizarre film. Many will not be able to bear it, others will be disgusted by it and perhaps they are justified. I saw something worthy in the whole picture, maybe I am wrong, but who cares film is so subjective, some films only cause reactions in some people that others would have never have thought of.
Perhaps a masterpiece, perhaps a vile piece of nonsense. I just thing this Italian film says something potent about humanity and society...
9/10
Pier Paolo Pasolini's ultimate film is one of the most gruelling and disturbing films you are ever likely to see. It contains sadism, rough homosexual sex, rape, acts of cruelty, graphic violence, coprophagia and other obscenities. How can such an abhorrent motion picture be interpreted, understood, respected, appreciated? Firstly, Pasolini's picture gets credit for being a daring, mad outcry about life, society all processed in this tortuous film. Salò takes place in 1943-1944 in the miniature Fascist State established in the North of Italy by Benito Mussolini, after his retreat from Rome. The film's most evident undertone that I can notice is a graphic examination of how absolute power corrupts absolutely. 4 powerful Fascist Libertines make an agreement to go on an odyssey of debauchery, by seizing 18 good looking, healthy male and female teenagers and subjecting them to 120 days of mental, physical and sexual torture (120 Days of Sodom). The film is divided in three acts: 'Circle of Mania', 'Circle of Sh*t' and the 'Circle of Blood' - the film is increasingly unbearable to watch and as you watch this film you will wonder what its point is, if there is one, and you might be right to revile it. I felt shocked, disgusted, but intrigued by some of the strangely haunting qualities of this cruel motion picture, examining the potential infinity of human madness and savagery.
The film shows nudity, sex, rape and many other things, but not even for 1 second will you feel even remotely aroused. Pier Paolo Pasolini expertly films every sexual scene with a cold and ruthless detachment, opting for long shots in many scenes. Sex in this film is not the respectable union of two bodies, and the human body is not respected but rather 'consumed' by the despicable, amoral libertines.
This is a uniquely bizarre film. Many will not be able to bear it, others will be disgusted by it and perhaps they are justified. I saw something worthy in the whole picture, maybe I am wrong, but who cares film is so subjective, some films only cause reactions in some people that others would have never have thought of.
Perhaps a masterpiece, perhaps a vile piece of nonsense. I just thing this Italian film says something potent about humanity and society...
9/10