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The Gospel According to St Matthew (1964)

Director: Pier Paolo Pasolini

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From Time Out Film Guide

Certainly Pasolini's most satisfying movie, devoid both of the frequent lapses into pretentiousness that mar (for example) Theorem and Medea, and the sloppy editing and awkward acting of movies like The Decameron. The director's Catholicism and Marxism serve him well here as the Messiah is presented as a determinedly political animal fuelled by anger at social injustice, while the miracles are allowed to remain unexplained (but also never presented in terms of flashy special effects). The film's beauty, in fact, derives from its simplicity, with the Italian landscape (and non-professional actors) turned into a convincing milieu for the all-too-familiar goings-on by marvellous monochrome camerawork. And Pasolini's use of music, from Bach to Billie Holiday, is astounding.

Author: GA 0000-00-00 00:00:00

Time Out Film Guide

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Cast & crew

Director: Pier Paolo Pasolini

Producer: Alfredo Bini

Cast: Enrique Irazoqui, Margherita Caruso, Susanna Pasolini, Marcello Morante, Mario Socrate full cast

Duration: 142 mins


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