Pasolini (2014)

Pasolini Poster

We are with Pasolini during the last hours of his life, as he talks with his beloved family and friends, writes, gives a brutally honest interview, shares a meal with Ninetto Davoli, and cruises for the roughest rough trade in his gun-metal gray Alfa Romeo. Over the course of the action, Pasolini’s life and his art (represented by scenes from his films, his novel-in-progress Petrolio, and his projected film Porno-Teo-Kolossal) are constantly refracted and intermingled to the point where they become one.

Film Introduction
"Pasolini" is a 2014 biographical drama movie directed by Abel Ferrara. The movie spotlights the final days of the renowned Italian movie director, Pier Paolo Pasolini, who is credited with considerably affecting 20th-century cinema. Willem Dafoe stars as the dashing and eccentric Pasolini, bringing life into the intricate character that he was.

Storyline
The movie is set in Rome, 1975. It illustrates the last day in the life of the questionable director, Pier Paolo Pasolini, leading up to his violent and inexplicable death. It provides us an intimate representation of Pasolini's professional, artistic, and private life and reveals his important viewpoints about modern society.

The story begins with Pasolini editing his last movie, "Salo", while concurrently dealing with a novel titled "Petrolio". Parallel to his professional undertakings, his personal life is also explored, that includes his relationship with his beloved mom, and his young partner Ninetto Davoli. The story reveals his societal and political views originating from interviews he offered before his death.

Cinematic Style
"Pasolini" masterfully utilizes a style that blends reality with thought components, allowing the viewer to view how Pasolini may have analyzed the world. Ferrara craftily sketches Pasolini's imagination and interacts his principles through magnificent cinematic representations of pictured scenes from his uncompleted projects like "Porno-Teo-Kolossal". Ferrara utilizes a mix of Italian, English, and French languages in the movie to empirically represent Pasolini's intellectual universality.

Efficiency
Willem Dafoe remarkably encapsulates the essence of Pier Paolo Pasolini. His magnificent performance does justice to Pasolini's multi-layered persona, portraying his imaginative genius, his homosexuality, his political and societal consciousness, and his theories with nuanced understanding. Extremely, Dafoe's representation is not simply an imitation; he brings his own credibility and evokes a compelling screen existence.

Themes
The film aims to render Pasolini as more than simply a prominent director who fulfilled an awful end. It dives deep into his character, exposing him as an intellectual, a mystic, a critic, and a non-conformist who was confident to challenge social standards. The themes of contradiction and conflict, which frequently colored Pasolini's work and life, function plainly in the film.

The sexual politics, the decadence of the society, the spectrum of humanity, the essence of art and the artist, and the idea of death are some of the themes that the narrative focuses on. Significantly, the film does not try to resolve the mystery behind Pasolini's death however uses it as a premise to dig more profound into his life and approach.

Conclusion
"Pasolini" does not follow the standard pattern of biopics; instead, it explores the poignant contradictions that marked Pasolini's life and work. It narrates the tale of a male who was both well known and vilified for breaking cinematic barriers. Also, it supplies an insight into his ideologies that challenged the status quo. However, it keeps an objective lens, not passing judgment nor glorifying Pasolini. Ultimately, it is a tribute to an artist that perfectly illustrates his final hours, leaving you deep in believed even after completion.

Top Cast

  • Willem Dafoe (small)
    Willem Dafoe
    Pier Paolo Pasolini
  • Ninetto Davoli (small)
    Ninetto Davoli
    Epifanio
  • Riccardo Scamarcio (small)
    Riccardo Scamarcio
    Ninetto Davoli
  • Valerio Mastandrea (small)
    Valerio Mastandrea
    Nico Naldini
  • Roberto Zibetti (small)
    Roberto Zibetti
    Carlo
  • Andrea Bosca (small)
    Andrea Bosca
    Andrea Fago
  • Giada Colagrande (small)
    Giada Colagrande
    Graziella Chiarcossi
  • Damiano Tamilia
    Pino Pelosi
  • Francesco Siciliano (small)
    Francesco Siciliano
    Furio Colombo
  • Luca Lionello (small)
    Luca Lionello
    Narrator (voice)
  • Salvatore Ruocco (small)
    Salvatore Ruocco
    Politician