Screening

About Pasolini

Presented in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of Pier Paolo Pasolini’s birth, Willem Dafoe is the iconic Italian poet and film director. The film chronicles his final hours on November 2, 1975, following him as he works on his controversial classic, Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom and leads up to his brutal murder on the beach in Ostia on the outskirts of the city. Facing resistance and persecution from the public, politicians, censors, and critics, Pasolini visits with his beloved mother and friends, including actress Laura Betti, and continues his work on an ambitious new novel and screenplay—all the while cruising in his Alfa Romeo for adventure and connections with beautiful young men in the dark streets of Rome. [84 mins; drama; English, Italian, and French with English subtitles]

"One of the most intuitive and mysterious movie biographies made in a while." – Matt Zoller Seitz, RogerEbert.com

"As an homage that honestly attempts to grapple with the spirit of the great artist's works and beliefs, Ferrara has concocted a worthy assemblage to honor him." – Nicholas Bell, IONCinema

"This gives Salò, and the figurehead that Ferrara and Dafoe create from Pasolini's artistic courage, great and undeniable significance amid the political hypocrisy and artistic crises of today." – Armand White, National Review

Curated by Prof. Colleen Ryan of the IU Department of French and Italian.