Porcile (1969)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

Pier Paolo Pasolini

Writer:

Pier Paolo Pasolini (writer)

Release Date:

1969 (France)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

I killed my father, I ate human flesh, and I quiver with joy.

Plot:

Two dramatic stories. In an undeterminated past, a young cannibal (who killed his own father) is condemned to be torn to pieces by some wild beasts...

Plot Keywords:

Pig | Nazi | Male Full Frontal Nudity | Female Full Frontal Nudity | Execution

Cast

Pierre Clémenti	...	Young cannibal (as Pierre Clementi)
Jean-Pierre Léaud	...	Julian Klotz (as Jean Pierre Leaud)
Alberto Lionello	...	Mr. Klotz
Ugo Tognazzi	...	Herdhitze
Anne Wiazemsky	...	Ida
Margarita Lozano	...	Madame Klotz (as Margherita Lozano)
Marco Ferreri	...	Hans Günther
Franco Citti	...	Cannibal
Ninetto Davoli	...	Maracchione

Also Known As:

Pigpen (USA)
Pigsty (UK)
Porcherie (France)

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

Italy | France

Language:

Italian

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-15 (cinema release) (1970) | Finland:K-16 (VHS rating) (1993) | Spain:18 | UK:15 (DVD rating) | Sweden:15 | Argentina:16 | UK:X

Filming Locations:

Aci Castello, Catania, Sicily, Italy

Company:

I Film Dell'Orso

Trivia:

Third part of Pier Paolo Pasolini's "Mythical Cycle" also including Edipo re (1967/I), Teorema (1968) and Medea (1969).

Goofs:

Anachronisms: In one of the shots related to the medieval cannibal plot, we see a dust cloud rising in the distance behind the characters. It is a car driving across the mountain landscape.

Quotes:

Young cannibal: I killed my father, I ate human flesh, and I quiver with joy.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Killing Floor (2007)

Too obscure, but I can't help but like a Pasolini film

With this, I only have one more Pasolini feature to go and I have seen all of them (the missing culprit being Accatone). Porcile does not represent Pasolini at his best. It's far too abstract and obscure. Two stories alternate, one taking place in a quasi-legendary time and one in modern times. The quasi-legendary scenes concern a young cannibal, some rapists and murderers. The modern sequence concerns some former Nazis living in Italy. One of their sons, played by French actor Jean-Pierre Leaud, is sick of the evil, bourgeois lifestyle he leads. At one point, since he lacks any ambition, he throws himself into an intentional coma. I don't get it, especially how the two parts work together. Still, as a Pasolini fan, I have to admit that it is a strikingly made film. I especially liked the scenes set in the past. Pasolini regulars Franco Citti and Ninetto Davoli (the only actor, I believe, who appears in both parts of the film, although I have no clue why) come along for the ride. Pasolini fans should certainly see it, others should avoid. 7/10.