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IMDbPro

Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom

Original title: Salò o le 120 giornate di Sodoma
  • 19751975
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 57m
IMDb RATING
5.8/10
60K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
482
76
Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom (1975)
Drama
In World War II Italy, four fascist libertines round up nine adolescent boys and girls and subject them to 120 days of physical, mental, and sexual torture.In World War II Italy, four fascist libertines round up nine adolescent boys and girls and subject them to 120 days of physical, mental, and sexual torture.In World War II Italy, four fascist libertines round up nine adolescent boys and girls and subject them to 120 days of physical, mental, and sexual torture.
IMDb RATING
5.8/10
60K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
482
76
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • Pier Paolo Pasolini
    • Writers
      • Pier Paolo Pasolini
      • Sergio Citti(screenplay collaboration)
      • Pupi Avati(additional scriptwork)
    • Stars
      • Paolo Bonacelli
      • Giorgio Cataldi
      • Uberto Paolo Quintavalle
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Pier Paolo Pasolini
    • Writers
      • Pier Paolo Pasolini
      • Sergio Citti(screenplay collaboration)
      • Pupi Avati(additional scriptwork)
    • Stars
      • Paolo Bonacelli
      • Giorgio Cataldi
      • Uberto Paolo Quintavalle
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 460User reviews
    • 187Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
    • Awards
      • 2 wins & 1 nomination

    Videos1

    Trailer [OV]
    Trailer 3:59
    Trailer [OV]

    Photos96

    Paolo Bonacelli, Giorgio Cataldi, Uberto Paolo Quintavalle, and Aldo Valletti in Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom (1975)
    Pier Paolo Pasolini in Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom (1975)
    Paolo Bonacelli, Giorgio Cataldi, Umberto Chessari, Elsa De Giorgi, Gaspare Di Jenno, Efisio Etzi, Guido Galletti, Rinaldo Missaglia, Giuseppe Patruno, Uberto Paolo Quintavalle, Hélène Surgère, and Aldo Valletti in Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom (1975)
    Graziella Aniceto, Lamberto Book, Caterina Boratto, Umberto Chessari, Dorit Henke, Faridah Malik, Franco Merli, Tatiana Mogilansky, Antiniska Nemour, Antonio Orlando, Sonia Saviange, and Hélène Surgère in Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom (1975)
    Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom (1975)
    Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom (1975)
    Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom (1975)
    Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom (1975)
    Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom (1975)
    Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom (1975)
    Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom (1975)
    Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom (1975)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Paolo Bonacelli
    Paolo Bonacelli
    • Il duca
    Giorgio Cataldi
    Giorgio Cataldi
    • Monsignore
    Uberto Paolo Quintavalle
    Uberto Paolo Quintavalle
    • Eccellenza
    • (as Umberto P. Quintavalle)
    Aldo Valletti
    Aldo Valletti
    • Il presidente
    Caterina Boratto
    Caterina Boratto
    • Signora Castelli
    Elsa De Giorgi
    Elsa De Giorgi
    • Signora Maggi
    Hélène Surgère
    Hélène Surgère
    • Signora Vaccari
    • (as Helene Surgere)
    Sonia Saviange
    Sonia Saviange
    • La pianista
    Sergio Fascetti
    Sergio Fascetti
    • Vittima (Maschio)
    Bruno Musso
    • Carlo Porro - Vittima (Maschio)
    Antonio Orlando
    • Tonino - Vittima (Maschio)
    Claudio Cicchetti
    • Vittima (Maschio)
    Franco Merli
    Franco Merli
    • Vittima (Maschio)
    Umberto Chessari
    • Vittima (Maschio)
    Lamberto Book
    • Lamberto Gobbi - Vittima (Maschio)
    Gaspare Di Jenno
    • Rino - Vittima (Maschio)
    Giuliana Melis
    • Vittima (Femmina)
    Faridah Malik
    • Fatimah - Vittima (Femmina)
    • Director
      • Pier Paolo Pasolini
    • Writers
      • Pier Paolo Pasolini
      • Sergio Citti(screenplay collaboration)
      • Pupi Avati(additional scriptwork) (uncredited)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Salo is a town in northern Italy which Benito Mussolini's Fascist government effectively made their capital from 1943 until they fell from power in 1945. The place had particular relevance for Pier Paolo Pasolini because his brother was killed there.
    • Goofs
      When the Duke kisses several victims during Sergio and Renata's wedding, some victims and Ezio begin to laugh, off the character.
    • Quotes

      The President: [while eating a meal of feces] Carlo, do this with your fingers.

      [the President sticks two fingers in his mouth]

      The President: And say, "I can't eat rice with my fingers like this."

      Male Victim: [with fingers in his mouth] I can't eat rice.

      The President: Then eat shit, you little bastard.

    • Crazy credits
      Essential Bibliography: Roland Barthes: 'Sade, Fourier, Loyola' (Editions du Seuil); Maurice Blanchot: "Lautréamont et Sade' (Editions de Minuit; in Italy Dedalo Libri); Simone de Beauvoir: 'Faut-il brûler Sade' (Editions Gaimard); Pierre Klossowski: 'Sade mon prochain, le philosophe scélérat' (Editions du Seuil; in Italy SugarCo Edizioni); Philippe Sollers: 'L'écriture et l'experience des limites' (Editions du Seuil)
    • Alternate versions
      The film was rejected for cinema by the BBFC in 1976 and a private showing of the uncut version at the Old Compton Cinema Club in London's Soho resulted in a police raid and confiscation of the movie. A heavily edited version - minus 6 minutes of footage including scenes of torture, homosexuality and excrement eating, and including a 4 minute prologue describing the history of the town of Salo - was later prepared by UK censor James Ferman for club showings. The film was finally passed completely uncut for cinema and video in the UK in December 2000.
    • Connections
      Edited into Histoire(s) du cinéma: Une histoire seule (1989)
    • Soundtracks
      Prelude in C minor
      (uncredited)

      Composed by Frédéric Chopin

    User reviews460

    Review
    Review
    Top review
    Disgusting and Depressing Mix of Sexual Torture and Violence
    Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom (1975)

    *** 1/2 (out of 4)

    Nine young boys and nine young girls are gathered up and taken from their homes. They are taken to a secluded castle in Italy during WWII where they hear a variety of perverted stories while their captures sexually and mentally abuse them.

    Pier Paolo Pasolini would be murdered before the release of this, his final film and many still seem to think it wasn't a random murder. Many people believe that his politics had some higher ups order his murder but it's doubtful we'll ever know what the truth was. With that said, this final film of his is certainly unlike anything you're ever going to see as it's about as depraved, disgusting and depressing as you're going to get. I personally think SALO, OR THE 120 DAYS OF SODOM is a very good movie but it's hard to really recommend it to anyone.

    Based on the work of Marquis de Sade, this film is about as disturbing as everything put to film. The real debate is rather this is some sort of serious art film with a message or is it just a cheap piece of exploitation that was meant to make you sick. I mean, certain horror movies are trashed for their disgusting scenes of violence and sexual brutality but how many movies are actually worse than this one? Not only do you get disgusting stories being told ranging from child rape to people being forced to eat poop but we have to see these things as well. This is a film that really works on the viewers mind so it's going to be up to that viewer whether they take it in as art or some sort of exploitation.

    For my money, the film is a piece of art. I'm not going to say what the director was trying to do or say with the picture but to me this film works because it seems very real. It seems like you're really there watching these horrible events and the film really doesn't back down at anything. The stories are rather brutal and we get scenes of such sexual depravity that you can't help but be disturbed. There really isn't any style here because the camera just captures the horrors that are there. The performances are raw, realistic and just add to the horrors of the story.

    Obviously, not everyone is going to be able to take this film and I really can't say I'd blame anyone for turning it off. Again, we can debate the politics and message of the film but there's no question that when the end credits start you're going to need a shower.
    helpful•26
    5
    • Michael_Elliott
    • Nov 18, 2017

    FAQ2

    • How was it possible to shoot this movie with kids?
    • Did anything in this movie happen in real life?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 10, 1976 (Italy)
    • Countries of origin
      • Italy
      • France
    • Languages
      • Italian
      • French
      • German
    • Also known as
      • Die 120 Tage von Sodom
    • Filming locations
      • Salò, Brescia, Lombardia, Italy
    • Production companies
      • Produzioni Europee Associate (PEA)
      • Les Productions Artistes Associés
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross worldwide
      • $1,808,595
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 57 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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