Salo Or The 120 Days Of Sodom (1975) *****

Pier Paolo Pasolini's masterpiece. Adapted from Marquis de Sade's infamous novel, it's one of the most disturbing works in the entire history of cinema, as well as one of the rare X-rated movies that is nonetheless widely respected in cinephile circles, often shown in university film courses, and written about in prestigious movie magazines. And yet, as far as objectionable content is concerned, ''Salo'' makes even the most explicit pornflick look very tame by comparison. Every imaginable taboo is broken - young people (forced to be fully nude most of the time) are systematically degraded, tortured, mutilated, and even forced to eat feces. But the film is more than just a chronicle of atrocities. There are moment of incredible tenderness as well. A very powerful moment occurs when the young people are forced to walk naked on all fours, and be fed like dogs. One of the villains puts a bunch of nails inside a piece of meat, a girl eagerly eats it and suddenly her mouth is full of blood. 

Arabian Nights (1974) ****

The Canterbury Tales (1972) ****

The Decameron (1971) ****

The Walls Of Sana'a (1971) ***

Notes Towards An African Orestes (1970) ***

A curious film by Pier Paolo Pasolini, documenting his preparations for a film set in Africa and based on a Greek myth.

Amore e rabbia (1969) ***

Segments:

"L'Indifferenza" (Carlo Lizzani)  ***

"Agonia" (Bernardo Bertolucci)  *

"La Sequenza del fiore di carta" (Pier Paolo Pasolini)  ***

"L'Amore" (Jean-Luc Godard)  *****

"Discutiamo discutiamo" (Marco Bellochio)  *

Medea (1969) ***

Porcile (1969) ****

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Caprice Italian Style (1968) ***

Segments:

"La bambinaia" (Mario Monicelli)  **

"Il mostro della domenica" (Steno)  **

"Perchè?" (Mauro Bolognini)  **

"Che cosa sono le nuvole?" (Pier Paolo Pasolini)  ***

"Viaggio di lavoro" (Pino Zac and Franco Rossi)  **

"La gelosa" (Mauro Bolognini)  **

Teorema (1968) ***

Notes For A Film On India (1968) ***

Oedipus Rex (1967) ***

Le Streghe (1967) ***

Five short films about Italian women (all played by Silvana Mangano). The first one is about a famous movie star. In the second segment, a woman supposedly drives an accident victim to the hospital. The third (and best) episode is a farcical tale about a father and a son looking for a woman. The fourth segment is a rather vicious satire about Sicilian vendettas. A bored housewife is the heroine of the last (and weakest) episode, co-starring Clint Eastwood. The film benefits from a superb musical score by Piero Piccioni.

"La Strega bruciata viva" (Lucino Visconti) **
"Senso civico" (Mauro Bolognini) ***
"La Terra vista dalla luna" (Pier Paolo Pasolini) ***
"La Siciliana" (Franco Rossi) **
"Una Sera come le altre" (Vittorio De Sica) **

Uccellacci e uccellini (1966) ****

One of Pier Paolo Pasolini's greatest films, a complex allegory about Communism and Christianity.

Location Hunting In Palestine (1965) ***

Love Meetings (1964) ***

A cinéma vérité documentary by Pier Paolo Pasolini, consisting entirely of public interviews. 

The Gospel According To St.Matthew (1964) ***

This Gospel according to Pier Paolo Pasolini will try the patience of many viewers. But it's still a powerful movie.

La Rabbia (1963) ***

RoGoPaG (1963) ***

Three fine short films from famous directors and one perfectly fine short film from a relative unknown. The Pier Paolo Pasolini's segment, starring Orson Welles, is probably the best, a warm-up of sorts before the next year's "The Gospel According To St. Mathew". Jean-Luc Godard's segment is well-directed and intriguing, although more conventional than this director's other films. The Rossellini segment, mostly set in Bangkok, is a bit odd, but quite entertaining.

"Illibatezza" (Roberto Rossellini)  ***
"Il Nuovo mondo" (Jean-Luc Godard)  ***
"La Ricotta" (Pier Paolo Pasolini)  ****
"Il Pollo ruspante" (Ugo Gregoretti)  ***