In the dusty, sun-bleached slums of Rome, a pimp's tragic slide toward destiny unfolds with the solemnity of a religious passion. A gritty fusion of the sacred and profane, where Bach's music hallows the lowest depths of human existence.

Accattone

"The Poor Man's "Dolce Vita""

25 September 1961 Italy 117 min ⭐ 7.7 (509)

Director: Pier Paolo Pasolini

Cast: Franco Citti, Franca Pasut, Silvana Corsini, Paola Guidi, Adriana Asti

Drama

The Sacred and the Profane Death as Destiny Existential Immobility Hunger and Corporeality

Accattone - Easter Eggs & Hidden Details

Easter Eggs

Mantegna's 'The Dead Christ'

In the dream sequence and other shots where Accattone lies down, the camera films him from the feet up in a foreshortened perspective, directly referencing Andrea Mantegna's famous painting Lamentation over the Dead Christ.

Masaccio's Frescoes

Pasolini stated that his visual style was inspired by the paintings of Masaccio, specifically the frontal, blocky, and solemn framing of the characters, giving them a heavy, sculptural quality.

Dante's Purgatorio Canto V

The opening text is a direct quote from Dante regarding the death of Buonconte da Montefeltro, whose soul is saved at the last moment by a single tear. This suggests Accattone is a Purgatorial figure, not a Hellish one.

Sergio Citti Cameo

Sergio Citti, the main actor's brother and Pasolini's guide to the Roman slang/slums, appears as a waiter. He was instrumental in writing the dialogue.

🥚

View Full Movie Analysis