Pier Paolo Pasolini

Pier Paolo Pasolini







RANKED:

1. Accattone (1961)


After spending two decades as a writer and poet, Pier Paolo Pasolini entered the world of cinema with his debut feature film, 1961's "Accattone." Centering on a pimp at the end of his rope, "Accattone" spends its runtime engaging with pure bad intentions. Our protagonist continues to go out of his way to demonstrate the moral black heart at the center of humanity. His actions are evil, his relationships are abusive, and his general viewpoint on life is utterly corrupted. To me, the film is a spiritual cousin to the films of Robert Bresson. Its confines iterate just how lifelessly putrid the soul can be. We do not like nor root for our protagonist. Instead, we must keep his company and watch as he does nothing but abuse and manipulate people for his own survival. This is especially stark given the post-war landscape of Italy - our characters constantly surrounded by rubble and decay. Its a film, much akin to many post-war European films, that seethe with resentment and bitterness, showing just how depraved and unsavory life and humanity are.

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