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.
