Accattone is a 1961 movie directed by Pier Paolo Pasolini.
WHAT HAPPENS?
A pimp’s reality becomes a struggle after his prostitute goes to jail.
ONE LINE REVIEW
Accattone is an inventive, raw, funny portrait of a lost post-war generation.
THE ACTORS
Franco Citti plays Accattone, a pimp who floats through life. When his prostitute lands in jail, his life unravels. Citti brilliantly portrays this degradation, as his gold adornments are pawned off and the cocky youth transforms into a sullen shell. Citti’s acting is centralized in his expressive eyes – there’s both a spark of mad, cruel genius and a vacant depression. It’s an intriguing performance, as you want to empathize with Accattone’s fate – despite his often despicable actions.
THE DIRECTOR
Pasolini’s debut is impressive – you can feel his influence on Coppola and Scorcese. His camera cleanly pans to the faces of Accattone’s peers, revealing both their taunts and sadness. Pasolini makes brilliant use of the decaying, bombed out surroundings – Citti is often framed against washed out, sun-drenched isolation. Towards the movie’s end, Pasolini introduces some intriguing Neo-realist dream concepts before leaving the viewer with a jarring ending.
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