Most Disturbing Film I have ever seen

[Guest areacode212]

What exactly is the point of this movie?

In a nutshell, to symbolize the evil & horror of fascism via sexual depravity & sadism.

 

Those with a knowledge of history will know the name "Salo" all too well, for it was the Northern Italian Fascist Republic where Mussolini last held power in the final year or so of World War II. It was a region most notable for the unconscionable murder and mutilation of thousands upon thousands who did not conform to his dictatorial ideals. Accordingly, it was not without higher purpose that Pasolini set his film amidst the very sites that such horrendous crimes were committed in the name of Fascism. He had spent his youth growing up in the region, thus holding a deeply personal place in his psyche. It was the perfect setting for his adaptation of De Sade's "120 Days Of Sodom", transposed to the Italy of 1945, hence fueling his vilification of Fascistic ideology and the absolute corruption that power delivers during war-time.

[Guest El Satanico]

I was the one saying I hoped it was on Kazaa, so no.

 

But I've read one of the Marquis De Sade books and I know what I read of in that review is the type of stuff he wrote about.

[Guest EMAXSAUN]

I found it on kazaa lite v2 but it would take almost 2 days to download so i didnt.

 

 

This is a sick ass movie, that shows how cruel humans can really be. I would only advise watching it if you are into sick stuff like this.

[Guest Will Scarlet]

Sounds intriguing, but I do not think I actually could sit through that.

 

Ah well. At least I figured out how to play VCD's on my computer thanks to this thread. Maybe now I can get some use out of that VCD I bought a few months ago...

[Guest evenflowDDT]

Where'd you get a copy of Salo? You lucky bastard (well, unlucky since you don't like/want to see the film)... I've been trying to pick up a copy of that for years! The Criterion DVD is long out-of-print and super-expensive, although there are many bootlegs of it (several of which make their way to eBay, meaning I could buy it, but I don't know how good the image quality is compared to the original). There's supposedly a great UK Region 2 release, but I'd be shocked if the BBFC didn't trim it, plus I don't have access to my region-free player. And of course, the VHS ain't at Hollywood Video, folks, and I'm too much of a DVD snob to buy any VHS unless it's at a $5 or less or not available on DVD deal. But like I said, the only place to find prices like that around here is at Hollywood.

 

I'm trying to devise a plan on how to steal it, or at least copy it, from our college library. Unfortunately, the library's smart - you can't check out DVDs or films, you have to "screen them" in the library's own screener room, where they can watch you at all times. Any suggestions?

[Guest mesepher]

this sounds terrible... perhaps you might want to be checked out by a psychologist before viewing this garbage

[Guest mach7]

This is a sick ass movie, that shows how cruel humans can really be. I would only advise watching it if you are into sick stuff like this.

That's a pretty narrow minded point of view. One doesn't have to be "into sick stuff like this" to enjoy a movie that presents a valid statement about society.

[Guest Plushy Al Logan]

I read the review and I still don't know the point of it.

 

It sounds like a sick porno movie to me.

Thats close to what I'm thinking.

 

::Shudders::

[Guest El Satanico]

perhaps you might want to be checked out by a psychologist before viewing this garbage

Well that may be a good idea in theory, but that wouldn't work very well for me.

 

I am perfectly sane, but I have my doubts that a psychologist would believe me.

[Guest godthedog]

This is a sick ass movie, that shows how cruel humans can really be. I would only advise watching it if you are into sick stuff like this.

That's a pretty narrow minded point of view. One doesn't have to be "into sick stuff like this" to enjoy a movie that presents a valid statement about society.

the problem is, almost no one in their right mind would consider 'salo' a "valid statement about society" (whatever that may mean). i've read scores & scores of opinions on it, and exactly one person claimed that it had any merit.

 

i saw it, and honestly felt kind of "ho-hum" at the end of it. i'd read reviews of it, so i knew what i was getting into, and...honestly, when you take away the shock value, there isn't really much to the movie at all. aside from saying "by the way, the 4 weird-looking guys in charge of this perverse torturing are fascists too," the movie doesn't explore anything about the nature of the predators (other than that they're perverse) or the victims (other than that they're being tortured and are thinking about suicide). the whole film is simply an exercise in these little rituals, i never got the impression that some point was trying to be made. pasolini just never took it in an insightful (or even particularly interesting) direction.

 

and i can't imagine someone wanting to subject film history students to that movie. unless you're teaching some special course on antipleasure movies and your curriculum has things like 'gummo', 'the doom generation' and 'weekend' and shit, so that the students know what they're getting into.

[Guest godthedog]

this sounds terrible... perhaps you might want to be checked out by a psychologist before viewing this garbage

i won't defend 'salo' specifically, but movies that aren't supposed to make you enjoy them do have some value. they can be more memorable than a "pleasurable" movie, and have more potential to make you think about the world and whatever the filmmakers are trying to say. brecht and godard were big on this.

[Guest Dmann2000]

and i can't imagine someone wanting to subject film history students to that movie. unless you're teaching some special course on antipleasure movies and your curriculum has things like 'gummo', 'the doom generation' and 'weekend' and shit, so that the students know what they're getting into.

Well this guy did shoe us Passolini's "Teorama" AND he showed a 3 1/2 hour film from France about a French mother/hooker called "Jeanne Diellman".

 

And he showed "Last Year at Marianbad" Bastard.

[Guest EMAXSAUN]

This is a sick ass movie, that shows how cruel humans can really be. I would only advise watching it if you are into sick stuff like this.

That's a pretty narrow minded point of view. One doesn't have to be "into sick stuff like this" to enjoy a movie that presents a valid statement about society.

the problem is, almost no one in their right mind would consider 'salo' a "valid statement about society" (whatever that may mean). i've read scores & scores of opinions on it, and exactly one person claimed that it had any merit.

 

i saw it, and honestly felt kind of "ho-hum" at the end of it. i'd read reviews of it, so i knew what i was getting into, and...honestly, when you take away the shock value, there isn't really much to the movie at all. aside from saying "by the way, the 4 weird-looking guys in charge of this perverse torturing are fascists too," the movie doesn't explore anything about the nature of the predators (other than that they're perverse) or the victims (other than that they're being tortured and are thinking about suicide). the whole film is simply an exercise in these little rituals, i never got the impression that some point was trying to be made. pasolini just never took it in an insightful (or even particularly interesting) direction.

 

and i can't imagine someone wanting to subject film history students to that movie. unless you're teaching some special course on antipleasure movies and your curriculum has things like 'gummo', 'the doom generation' and 'weekend' and shit, so that the students know what they're getting into.

Exactly, without all of the shock value, this movie has NOTHING>

[Guest godthedog]

and i can't imagine someone wanting to subject film history students to that movie.  unless you're teaching some special course on antipleasure movies and your curriculum has things like 'gummo', 'the doom generation' and 'weekend' and shit, so that the students know what they're getting into.

Well this guy did shoe us Passolini's "Teorama" AND he showed a 3 1/2 hour film from France about a French mother/hooker called "Jeanne Diellman".

 

And he showed "Last Year at Marianbad" Bastard.

sweet jesus. i'm sorry. is he a sadist? is he one of those elitist pricks who gives you a slew of unwatchable crap with an "if you don't love these, you are not a lover of flim"?

[Guest Ravenbomb]

Is this like how everybody thought those car crash pictures were disturbing, cause those weren't that bad, really.

[Guest El Satanico]

Is this like how everybody thought those car crash pictures were disturbing, cause those weren't that bad, really.

What on earth are you talking about?

[Guest IDrinkRatsMilk]

Exactly, without all of the shock value, this movie has NOTHING>

Whoa whoa whoa, what kind of statement is this? Without the shock value it has nothing, like that's a bad thing? But it does have the shock value, shock value is important. Some people just like to watch perversity. It's entertaining.

 

By the way, I watched it last night.

[Guest godthedog]

Exactly, without all of the shock value, this movie has NOTHING>

Whoa whoa whoa, what kind of statement is this? Without the shock value it has nothing, like that's a bad thing? But it does have the shock value, shock value is important. Some people just like to watch perversity. It's entertaining.

 

By the way, I watched it last night.

shock value, in and of itself, is a cheap tactic to get attention. you then have to DO something worthwhile with that attention. first, it wears off easily. second, any idiot can think of ways to shock someone; the talent and value come from incorporating that shock in a well-done and meaningful way into the larger whole (THE perfect example of this is the cannibalism in 'weekend'). pasolini seemed to be trying to do this in 'salo', but i don't think he succeeded.

[Guest Ravenbomb]

Is this like how everybody thought those car crash pictures were disturbing, cause those weren't that bad, really.

What on earth are you talking about?

http://forums.thesmartmarks.com/index.php?...5&hl=disturbing

 

Everybody thought those pictures were so disturbing or gross or whatever and those weren't that bad

[Guest IDrinkRatsMilk]

shock value, in and of itself, is a cheap tactic to get attention. you then have to DO something worthwhile with that attention. first, it wears off easily. second, any idiot can think of ways to shock someone; the talent and value come from incorporating that shock in a well-done and meaningful way into the larger whole (THE perfect example of this is the cannibalism in 'weekend'). pasolini seemed to be trying to do this in 'salo', but i don't think he succeeded.

I see your point, I'm just saying that shock value for it's own sake has a place. It may not be great film, but I can watch say, a clip of someone being hit by a train, or even pornography, and maybe it isn't important, or worthwhile, but I can appreciate it as trash and nothing more. So I look at Salo as series of images of depravity and nothing more. I can live with that.

 

By the way, I think the car crash pictures were more a case of feeling bad about the situation than the about the pictures themselves.

[Guest godthedog]

Is this like how everybody thought those car crash pictures were disturbing, cause those weren't that bad, really.

What on earth are you talking about?

http://forums.thesmartmarks.com/index.php?...5&hl=disturbing

 

Everybody thought those pictures were so disturbing or gross or whatever and those weren't that bad

holy shit...i (of course) clicked on the link, and got to scrolling about halfway down the first deformity picture before i went "oh my god" & closed it. that was 2 hours ago & i still cannot get that image out of my head. i'm freaked right the fuck out. a few minutes ago i had the tv on in the background, & when i looked over to it there was a camera panning inside someone's mouth and it made me jump.

[Guest Ravenbomb]

still dont think they're that bad. It's terrible that she has to live like that, it's terrible in general, but it's not disturbing.

[Guest EMAXSAUN]

Yeah, I have seen the story about that girl before, the pictures are nasty, but you just feel bad for her, they don't really freak you out.

 

And BTW, IDrinkRatsMilk, what did you think of Salo?

[Guest IDrinkRatsMilk]

As a film, I didn't think it was too great, but I enjoyed it in a Faces of Death kind of way. Like a music video sort of.

[LaParkaYourCar 0]

I prepared myself enough before looking at the car crash photos that I wasn't freaked out, but I was deeply saddened. It's very depressing to see her.

[Guest EMAXSAUN]

As a film, I didn't think it was too great, but I enjoyed it in a Faces of Death kind of way. Like a music video sort of.

Didn't it make you upset and/or sick to your stomach?

[Guest KingOfOldSchool]

As a film, I didn't think it was too great, but I enjoyed it in a Faces of Death kind of way. Like a music video sort of.

Didn't it make you upset and/or sick to your stomach?

Well, then you don't know IDRM. Apparently he has a strong constitution for this kind of stuff.

 

I am intrigued by this film, but not so much that I want to go through the trouble of finding it. Oh well.

[Guest Marshall]

I've seen it. Most of it is quite funny. The only part which made me feel sick was the poop eating. The rest is just silly.

[Guest IDrinkRatsMilk]

The shit eating wasn't bad. I mean, it wasn't even real shit, it was chocolate. But then, I've watched a video or two of actual shit eating... probably makes the simulation pale in comparison.

But no, it didn't make me disturbed or sick, although it is up there with the sickest movies I've seen. Maybe not top five, but top ten.

[Guest EMAXSAUN]

Wow, You guys must have seen some really sick shit to think that Salo is funny or not as sick as some of the movies that you have seen. Dam.