Ok so I went out yesterday and bought the newly released DVD âSALOâ 1975 (Italian). Well it is actually a re-release, since it was out on DVD 10 years ago. This is (or was) the Holy Grail of DVDs. Next to impossible to find, used copies were selling on EBay for a few hundred dollars, with factory sealed copies going for as much as $500 and up. I saw one or two going for over $1100.00. Criterion made only a limited number, and then lost the rights to the film. Prices started to climb higher and higher after that. Of course all those people that were coughing up a weeks pay for a DVD, probably never figured that Criterion might one day get the rights back and re-release it. But I did. And its exactly what happened. This new DVD comes in a 2 Disk special Edition, which includes 3 short documentaries on the making of the film and a booklet. It has a much better picture quality than prior releases, due to high definition transfer.
I got mine from Books & Borders (or was it Barnes & Noble) either wayâ¦. It goes for $40 â¦. Not cheap for a DVD, but I have been itching to see what all the hoopla was about with this film. I doubt you will be able to see this DVD for sale in other retailersâ¦. (maybe Circuit City).
OKâ¦. I was kidding when I said this was a family film. This film has been regarded as the most shocking, controversial film ever made. It has been called every name in the bookâ¦.. And it also has been called a master work of art . This was Pier Pasoliniâs last film. An artist and director, Pasolini directed about 26 films, including âThe Canterbury Talesâ 1972, and âArabian Nightsâ 1974.
This is a brief synopsis from IMDBâ¦â¦..
âSet in the Nazi-controlled, northern Italian state of Salo in 1944, four dignitaries round up sixteen perfect specimens of youth and take them together with guards, servants and studs to a palace near Marzabotto. In addition, there are four middle-aged women: three of whom recount arousing stories whilst the fourth accompanies on the piano. The story is largely taken up with their recounting the stories of Dante and De Sade: the Circle of Manias, the Circle of Shit and the Circle of Blood.ââ¦.. thatâs as far as I want to go.
This is an anti-fascist art film, so the scenes are all metaphors for the politics of the day. So heated in controversy at the time, the director was murdered shortly after its release. Still banned in some countries, while only a few years ago its ban was lifted in UK.
I will not describe the story line, my point for this review was to see if this film lives up to all the hype. The 1970s was an odd decade for films. Very bizarre and disturbing films were released in the 70s⦠not just from Hollywood, but from others countries as well. A lot of the films made during this period could not be made today.
SOOOoooooooo how does Salo stand up to all the hype???? Is it as notorious as all the film websites say it is??
My opinion, no. Donât bother with this one. I think a film like this could still very well be made todayâ¦.even with all the graphic nudityâ¦â¦ So it does not live up to all the hype. As far as critique ⦠to be honest most of it went over my headâ¦. Too much art and metaphorsâ¦. Even at the end, when you see the torture scenes, you donât really feel for the victims, because their characters were never built up. I give this film a D.
here is a clip (clean)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0o2ul-UwOvU
