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December 22, 2025

‘You have to be ready to see it’: Abel Ferrara and Catherine Breillat on why Pasolini’s Salò is a gift that keeps giving

Pier Paolo Pasolini’s notorious film is now 50 years old, and its cavalcade of shocking cruelty and violence still leaves a stark impact on its viewers. Film-makers explain why Pasolini ‘was a saint to us’

‘You have to be ready to see it’: Abel Ferrara and Catherine Breillat on why Pasolini’s Salò is a gift that keeps giving

TL;DR

  • Abel Ferrara shares his memory of attending the premiere of Pier Paolo Pasolini's controversial film Salò.
  • Salò, known for its cruelty and violence, continues to impact viewers 50 years after its release.
  • Filmmakers like Catherine Breillat have varied reactions to Salò, with some needing to be "ready" to see it.
  • The production of Salò in Italy was reportedly more jovial than its on-screen brutality suggested.
  • Pasolini aimed to create a "profoundly enigmatic" film that might be misunderstood.
  • Salò faced censorship and accusations of indecency from its initial release in Italy and the UK.
  • Decades later, Pasolini's work is experiencing a revival, with new interpretations and biopics being made.
  • The politics in Pasolini's work, particularly Salò's parallel to Italian fascism, are seen as transcending simple categorization.
  • The circumstances of Pasolini's death in 1975 remain mysterious and subject to conspiracy theories.
  • Pasolini's unfinished projects and the lasting power of his films continue to resonate with contemporary audiences.

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