Accatone

Pier Paolo Pasolini's 1961 debut carries the torch of Italian neo-realism, portraying Rome's slums in an almost unbearably realistic light. The rebellious, yet charming, main protagonist Vittorio Accatone is a pimp who brazenly lives off women. When his prize prostitute Maddalena is imprisoned, Accatone is left to starve. He resorts to theft rather than finding a job. It portrays women in a highly unsympathetic light: they are subjected to prostitution, rape, beatings, and neglect. However, when Accatone meets the virginal Stella he tries to adopt a better way of life, which unfortunately ends tragically. This is an impressive debut from a director who unsurprisingly went on to become one of world cinema's most important directors. Though it is not always an easy film to watch, the sleepy-eyed charm of the main protagonist carries you through, and it is far more bearable than his final film Saló, also known as 120 Days of Sodom. [Paula Morgan]