Passolini's Salo - classic or dud?

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The last five times I watched it, I liked it even better than I did the previous ten times.

― dave q, Thursday, 4 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

two months pass...

Though, I haven't seen it I do own a book about Salo. I am going to see it in August at a local movie theater. I think it's time for a faithful adaptation of the 120 Days of Sodom. No metaphors or political statements. A hardcore literal translation of the text onto film. Leave the chocolate and marmalade for the kiddies! Only genuine sadists and masochists in the film. This is what I want to see. "One's eye adjust to the darkness."

― Mason Verger, Sunday, 23 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link

It's terrible that I'm posting here since I haven't seen it, but I've read a lot about it and most people say that the anti-Fascist message comes through clearly and is very moving. Is that true?

― maryann, Sunday, 23 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link

'faithful adaptation of the 120 days of Sodom' - do you get cable television?

― maryann, Sunday, 23 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link

they oughta get that harry potter kid in

― Queen I am neither Buffy nor the Messiah G, Friday, 28 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link

I do not think of Salo as either the adaptation of the Marquis de Sade text as allegory for the horrors of fascist Italy, or excuse to see lots of naked youngsters chowing on poo. Although Passolini claimed it was an allegory to fascism, I did not feel the allegorical message was as clear as he intended. The film is, however, much more than mere pornography. I think the best label for this film, if it be labelled at all, is "horror". Not the fasntasy horror of goblins, but the very real horror that gnaws at the base of one's very core. The film is particularly disturbing. I had a lot of trouble shaking off some of the images after seeing it. What struck me mostly was the way the four tormentors became less and less passionate as the tortures and indignities they inflicted became harsher. I suppose it was in this way that Passolini intended the allegory, but it seemed more simply horrific and sad. Power and brutality are detailed with no purpose beyond that of detailing power and brutality. Perhaps that is an allegory which extends far beyond Fascism or politics and well into the realm of our human nature. Sad...

― Scribus Toasticus, Friday, 5 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link

i think my core must be the wrong way up

― mark s, Friday, 5 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link

two weeks pass...

well... honestly I don't get a kick out of the whole movie. It is probably one of the most disturbing film I've ever seen in the cinema - I really see it is a contrast between good and evil, innocent and pervert. For the whole 2 hours I was wondering how the story is going to end, and it was completely provocatively sad. I can't believe someone has ever made such film!

― Amy Au, Thursday, 25 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link

did watch this yesterday in the cinema and...it was the first time I came out of a cinema without having formed an opinion abt a movie. I was dazed by it and i couldn't walk at my normal pace home because I just replayed some of those images over and over...trying to make sense of them. And i still am!

In fact, when I tried to concentrate more and more on the images, trying to absorb it as the movie progressed I found less and less info to take from it. And I felt there was some black humour there, especially at the beginning, but not to lighten the mood but I think the intention was to make us laugh and makes the audience feel guilty for doing so.

highly original and a very single minded movie. To actually go through with the idea it took a lot of nerve and courage. Glad I watched it.

― Julio Desouza, Thursday, 1 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link

i am working on an idea about all of Passolinis films being as accuarte(sp) to their origin texts. Why he chose the source texts he did is another question

― anthony, Thursday, 1 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link

he surely chose it because it was a 'far out' idea. Maybe he read it and always wanted to make it and he found the context to set the book to (have never read the book).

also noticed a bibliography in the credits. very rare for me.

― Julio Desouza, Thursday, 1 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link

can anybody recommend any of his other pasolini movies?

― julio Desouza, Thursday, 1 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link

the question came out wrong but you knwo what I mean...

― Julio Desouza, Thursday, 1 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link

Saint MAtthew, Canterbury Tale, Decameron are all better then Salo.

― anthony, Thursday, 1 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link

cheers anthony.

― Julio Desouza, Thursday, 1 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link

one month passes...

Just look around our little BIG, FAT, STUPID and CONTENT universe...
Oppressed?
Oppressors?
Sociology 101?
Is there a clear contrast between good and evil, innocent and pervert.
Have you watched CNN lately?
Let's not limit ourselves to heavy brainwork on fascist Italy only...
There is always CNN to watch...
- J
PS.
Did any of you find the film dated?
- J

― Jarek, Tuesday, 10 September 2002 01:04 (twenty-one years ago) link

Yes! Canterbury Tales and Decameron are very *raunchy*. I'm wondering if they both feature the same very handome bearded man? Salo is the true test of Pasolini fandom though--I say classic. Forget about fascist allegories, forget about faithfulness to Sade--nothing will ever match that literary masterpiece--but just try and take it as it is, for what it's worth--a good excuse to witness young maidens in nice gray tweed school girl skirts and freshly pressed crisp white blouses as they cower in the corner, fearfully awaiting their uncertain futures...

― Mary (Mary), Tuesday, 10 September 2002 02:44 (twenty-one years ago) link

what the fuck do you need an excuse for?

― Queen G (Queeng), Tuesday, 10 September 2002 15:25 (twenty-one years ago) link

Hmm... good point.

― Mary (Mary), Tuesday, 10 September 2002 15:54 (twenty-one years ago) link

one month passes...

I'm not sure americans could be able to understand Salo, since they live in a much simpler world than the rest of mankind. I don't think Salo is about good and evil. But it's obvious the 4 men are looking for God; trying desperatly to get an answer from Him, by torturing other human beings. For me it's a very religious and deeply edificating film. More than a critic to fascism, I see a critic to the need of absolute, a critic to religion, politics, justices, and society altogether.

― Sebastian, Saturday, 19 October 2002 14:46 (twenty-one years ago) link

I'm not sure americans could be able to understand Salo, since they live in a much simpler world than the rest of mankind.

I love this.

― N. (nickdastoor), Sunday, 20 October 2002 11:49 (twenty-one years ago) link

maybe i am a canuck, but i have seen salo and read de sade and i would like to reitatarate(sp) THEY ARE FUCKING DULL. i am not offended by them JUST BORED UNTO UNCONCIOUSNESS.

― anthony easton (anthony), Sunday, 20 October 2002 20:03 (twenty-one years ago) link

deeply edificating film

Duhhhhh...us dumb Americans were unaware that "edificating" was actually a word.

― J0hn Darn13ll3, Sunday, 20 October 2002 20:16 (twenty-one years ago) link

one year passes...

TS: Signara Vicarri vs. Signora Maggi?

― , Sunday, 2 May 2004 21:44 (nineteen years ago) link

six years pass...

guys, ice t just watched salo and reviewed it on twitter
"'Salo' Review: Probably outrageous for it's time but to me.. Weird, crazy, but BOORING. Gay sex, shit eating and corny torture. WACK."

― tylerw, Wednesday, 2 February 2011 21:30 (thirteen years ago) link

Dude needs an ILE invite

― Y Kant Torres Red (Noodle Vague), Wednesday, 2 February 2011 21:34 (thirteen years ago) link

"I did have some good laughs.. Like when the 3 weirdos got dessed like old women and went to the wedding??? Come on son!"

― tokyo rosemary, Wednesday, 2 February 2011 22:22 (thirteen years ago) link

Totally read Passantino's Salo. Gutted.

― LBI clearly believes the cat is gone (Le Bateau Ivre), Wednesday, 2 February 2011 22:35 (thirteen years ago) link

ten years pass...

"God, why have you abandoned us?"

― flappy bird, Saturday, 13 February 2021 08:42 (three years ago) link

guys, ice t just watched salo and reviewed it on twitter
"'Salo' Review: Probably outrageous for it's time but to me.. Weird, crazy, but BOORING. Gay sex, shit eating and corny torture. WACK."

― tylerw, Wednesday, 2 February 2011 bookmarkflaglink

Lol was looking, did he delete this lol

― xyzzzz__, Saturday, 13 February 2021 11:33 (three years ago) link

love Pasolini, love Sade, this movie is adequate but y'know

― The Scampo Fell to Earth (Noodle Vague), Saturday, 13 February 2021 12:08 (three years ago) link

When I was living in West Berlin in 1984, my American boyfriend at the time took me to see this. Then we went for a drink, and he dumped me. That's one way of doing it!

― mike t-diva, Saturday, 13 February 2021 14:03 (three years ago) link

There are a lot of theoretical takes in this thread. Here's mine: Pasolini made the Trilogy of Life to convince himself he loved sexuality. Salo was his admission that he hated sexuality.

― Halfway there but for you, Saturday, 13 February 2021 15:03 (three years ago) link

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