Murdered fifty years ago today under murky, brutal circumstances: brilliant, doomed and highly politicized radical Italian queer filmmaker and poet Pier Paolo Pasolini (5 March 1922 - 2 November 1975). Pasolini’s crowning achievements like Accattone (1961), Mamma Roma (1962) and Teorema (1968) are totemic works in mid-twentieth century European art cinema. (Before anyone asks - no, I’ve deliberately avoided Salò (1975). I’m sure it’s great but I’m squeamish and know my limitations!). I suggest everyone pick up a particularly rough Italian rent boy today in Pasolini’s memory and listen to the spoken word tribute “Prayer to Pasolini” (2021) by ultra-fan / disciple John Waters on Spotify. (It culminates in Waters babbling in tongues!). Pictured: portrait of the suave Pasolini by Agnès Varda, New York, 1967.
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