Salo, or the 120 Days of Sodom

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Salamander F What I mainly want to say is that I first saw this film in 2015, and I've been obsessed with it ever since. I've watched it many times and have researched every meaning, message, criticism, and accusation that director Pier Paolo Pasolini makes here. It's definitely not a film for everyone; it's for people with a critical, reflective mind as a starting point. I'm not afraid to say that the first time I saw it I didn't understand what I had seen, but I did know there was a lot to discover and learn. Even now, ten years later, I continue to do so. The themes it explores, and the way they are combined and presented, make this my favorite film. The most impressive thing about this work is that you can clearly see messages that speak to very serious problems of our time and that explain what's happening now. Finally, I'll say that this film helps me know that, despite everything, I am still alive in many ways. I'm sure Pier Paolo Pasolini achieved his goal with me, and I'm glad he did. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/16/25 Full Review Stephen C Success in 1 hour and 57 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! In Italian and American English audio options with American English subtitles!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/24/25 Full Review Tarık D iğrenç ötesi bir film 1/10 Rated 0.5/5 Stars •  Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 05/18/25 Full Review Vince C Saló was always over-rated because it was rarely shown. I saw it at the Scala cinema in London in about 1980 and thought it was over-rated then. Most of Pasolini's films are badly paced and interminable, but at least the others retain historical curiosity value added to what charm they have. Saló has historical curiosity value, I guess, but lacks anything else. I didn't read "120 Days" until 10 years later. De Sade's subversive point is that his perpetrators are the four pillars of society - an aristocrat, a judge, a priest and a doctor (Justine is a better book, btw). Pasolini's attempt to restate it in terms of fascism is pointless. The rest is voyeurism - it is an obviously fake stagey peepshow (not without camera-conscious corpsing) of pretty boys and girls, and we might ask if it's an insult to the Holocaust. There's also an obvious Inquisition reference, which the credit to Barthes' "Sade, Fourier, Loyola" makes explicit. But Pasolini had already dealt with that in The Decameron, so it's another pointless burden on De Sade. Rated 2/5 Stars •  Rated 2 out of 5 stars 05/13/25 Full Review Logan D Four wealthy fascist libertines kidnap 18 teenagers and subject them to mental and physcial trauma. It should be no surpise this is based on a novel by the Marquis de Sade. This is probably the most disturbing film I've ever seen. Even more disturbing than Cannibal Holocaust (1980). Because even though this is a work of fiction I wouldn't be surprised if it occured on some level. The despair the director felt before his death is reflected in his final work as there is no presence of hope within this film. Fascism, morality, capitalism and other issues are explored with no clear position on any of them. Aldo Valletti is perfectly cast as "The President," his crooked eyes naturally adding to the perversity of his character. Not for the squeamish, I respected the art of this film but will never view it again. Pasolini was murdered before the film was released. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 04/27/25 Full Review Jacob B Amazing film! With more courage and confidence than any filmmaker working today, Pasolini took the work of the Marquis de Sade and transposed it to fascist Italy to make scathing comments not only on fascism but also on the horrors of modern society. If a viewer finds the simulated violence and sexual debauchery in this film too disturbing: good. Remember, at the same time this film was set, humans were engaged in one of the bloodiest and most violent wars and genocides in history…so far. If art reflects life, then no one should look away from this film in disgust. What we do to one another is far worse than what is depicted in this film—and unlike a film, our actions are real. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 07/23/25 Full Review Read all reviews

Salo, or the 120 Days of Sodom

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