"The Poor Man's "Dolce Vita""
Director: Pier Paolo Pasolini
Cast: Franco Citti, Franca Pasut, Silvana Corsini, Paola Guidi, Adriana Asti
Accattone — Movie Quotes
Memorable Quotes
Mo' sto bene.
Context
Spoken lying on the ground on the Ponte Testaccio bridge after crashing the stolen motorcycle.
Meaning
Translates to "Now I'm fine." His final words, spoken as he dies. It signifies that death is the only relief from the suffering of his life; he has finally found peace.
L'angel di Dio mi prese, e quel d'inferno gridava: O tu del ciel, perché mi privi? Tu te ne porti di costui l'eterno per una lacrimetta che 'l mi toglie.
Context
Shown as text on screen at the very beginning of the film.
Meaning
From Purgatorio, Canto V. It speaks of a soul saved from Hell by a "little tear" of repentance. It frames Accattone's story as a spiritual struggle for a shred of dignity.
Il lavoro un giorno o l'altro ammazza.
Context
Said after he quits his brief stint at manual labor, physically exhausted and unable to cope.
Meaning
"Work creates a man, but it destroys him too." (Or more literally: Work will kill you sooner or later). Accattone's rejection of the capitalist work ethic, viewing labor not as dignity but as a death sentence.
Io so' nato con la vocazione del ladro... Tu non sei nato con la vocazione del pappa e perciò fai l'accattone.
Context
Balilla explaining to Accattone why he struggles to survive in their world.
Meaning
"I was born with a thief's vocation... You weren't born with a pimp's vocation, that's why you're a beggar." It defines Accattone's failure—he is incompetent even at being a criminal.
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