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Saló, o le Centoventi Giornate di Sodoma (1975)

Director: Pier Paolo Pasolini

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From Time Out Film Guide

Pasolini's last movie before his being brutally murdered may now seem strangely prophetic of his death, but it is undeniably a thoroughly objectionable piece of work. Transporting De Sade's novel to Mussolini's Fascist republic of 1944, Pasolini observes with unflinching gaze the systematic humiliation and torture of beautiful young boys and girls, herded into a palatial villa by various jaded, sadistic members of the wealthy upper classes. According to the director, the story was meant to be a metaphor for Fascism, but the revolting excesses shown on screen (shit-eating and sexual violence included), coupled with the fact that the victims seem complaisant in, rather than resistant to, their ordeals, suggest murkier motives in making the movie. It's very hard to sit through and offers no insights whatsoever into power, politics, history or sexuality. Nasty stuff.

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

Time Out Film Guide

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User reviews of this film

  • Maggi said...
    Posted on Apr 29 2008 11:41 i completely disagree. Saol o le centoventi giornate di sodoma is an 'anti-pornographic' piece of political cinema.
    it is incredibly hard to see exactly what happened in that particularly dark epoch of italian (and european) history, but onew man who would know it more than others is Pasolini. Being a partisan and losing his brother to such terrible atrocisties committed under the fascist regime. Pasolini's film has a sense of anger (seen in 'excess'. He wants to destroy the fascist system in 112 minutes, and i bleive he succeeds. But i do agree, it does take more than one sitting to obtain this information. A gruelling but necessary watch.
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Cast & crew

Director: Pier Paolo Pasolini

Producer: Alberto Grimaldi

Cast: Paolo Bonicelli, Giorgio Cataldi, Umberto P Quintavalle full cast

Duration: 117 mins

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