Rating summary

Movie		5.0
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		5.0

Salò ou les 120 journées de Sodome Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov May 4, 2009

Arguably the most controversial film ever made, Pier Paolo Pasolini’s ”Salò o le 120 giornate di Sodoma” (1975) arrives on Blu-ray in France via Carlotta. The French distributors have licensed the same transfer BFI (British Film Institute) used for their Blu-ray release in the United Kingdom. Region-B "locked" and subtitled in French.

The evil

Fascist Italy, 1944. Somewhere on the outskirts of Salo sixteen beautiful boys and girls are captured and locked into a secluded villa guarded by armed soldiers. Four dignitaries, assisted by four middle-age women, will unleash a horrific sadistic ball where their victims will be sexually humiliated and tortured.

In the “Circle of Manias” the dignitaries will be aroused by erotic stories before they indulge into perverted sexual acts.

In the “Circle of Shit” the dignitaries will succumb to their most despicable fantasies. They will eat and then feed to others their own excrement.

In the “Circle of Blood” the dignitaries will punish their victims according to a set of rules they have accepted.

Based on Marquis de Sade’s 120 journées de Sodome Pasolini’s Salo is a film impossible to critique. Its narrative and graphic imagery defy everything human beings have come to accept as human. Its core is built on evil, despondency, and humiliation impossible to rationalize let alone critique. Yet, behind the graphic tortures and sadistic acts Salo reveals some believe lies a message in support of humanity, a weak, hurt, and dying hope that if faced without fear evil could be defeated.

If seen as the final work of a man disgusted with human kind’s progress, the destructive culture of superiority, and man’s thirst for power, spiritual and physical, Salo does indeed succeed in forcing one to ponder the weaknesses of human nature. What is it that drives human beings to mutilate and exterminate each other? Fake ideologies, religion, a desire for superiority? Or, is it that elusive genetic thread that supposedly separates humans from animals?

While many have stepped forward and claimed that Salo is a symbolic film reuniting politics with sensationalism, eased by images of human degradation unseen in other films with similar agendas, I must disagree. No one, not even Pasolini, could have afforded to go this far to simply propagandize a political ideology (Salo isn’t entirely truthful to Sade’s 120 journées de Sodome either) that would contradict the very message his film delivers. No, this is a personal film where political allegories and ideologies are excluded. Salo is an unconditional rejection of power and those who pursue it, regardless of who or what they are, what they represent.

Not surprisingly throughout Salo the fascists cite the words of Nietzsche, Klossowski, and Sade (not coincidentally all writers and philosophers who have decried the existence of God). Power, as embraced and abused by the fascists, Pasolini believed proves human kind's inability to confront its own weaknesses. And indeed, the victims' behavior as well as their acceptance of the unspeakable perversions initiated by the empowered proves that defeat is inexorably linked to power. Hence, the reason why both Sade’s 120 journées de Sodome and Salo culminate in horrific scenes depicting grotesque violence and self-destruction.

For those who have never seen Salo I wish to spare the following words – even though Pasolini’s film takes us back to the last days of Fascist Italy its message isn’t dated. On the contrary, it is as urgent as it has ever been. After Darfur, Rwanda, and Bosnia it is that much clearer that evil is part of human nature. It is in us, dormant not defeated. And more than ever we need to denounce it rather than pretend that it doesn’t exist.

Salò ou les 120 journées de Sodome Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Pier Paolo Pasolini's Salo arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of French distributors Carlotta.

The French distributors have used exactly the same transfer BFI (British Film Institute) used for their Blu-ray release of Pasolini's film in the United Kingdom (a small disclaimer with the BFI logo makes it very clear before the film begins). This being said, my opinion on this transfer – which has been debated on a number of forums since it was introduced by the British distributors – remains unchanged: it is not perfect, but it is certainly leaps and bounds above every other transfer that I have seen.

Compared to what previous DVD release of Salo have revealed, this Blu-ray transfer looks mighty impressive - plenty of debris, scratches and marks have been eliminated. Furthermore, the color-scheme is identical to that seen on the BFI Blu-ray release. As noted by James White in the booklet for the UK release, contrast varies, but this is due to the difference in source material. Also, there is a bit of edge-enhancement that pops up throughout the film, but I certainly wasn't bothered by it. Finally, I remain firmly convinced that even with the machine noise present on this release, one should opt for it and avoid all previous SDVD releases of Pasolini's film. For the record, the missing scene available only on the 35mm print held at the BFI National Archive, has been added here with optional French subtitles. (Note: This is a Region-B "locked" release, which you cannot play on your Region-A PS3 or SA. In order to view this disc, you must have a native Region-B or Region-Free player).

Salò ou les 120 journées de Sodome Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

This Blu-ray disc offers two audio options: the original Italian Mono track and a French Mono dub, which is accessible through the Version Francaise "officielle" (the Italian track is 48k/24-bit).

As far as I am concerned, the Italian track on this disc is identical to that found on the BFI produced release – it is fully-restored and in terrific condition. Unsurprisingly, the dialog is crisp, clear and very easy to follow. Balance has also been handled with utmost precision, and I certainly did not detect any disturbing pops, cracks, or hissings to report here.

The French dub provided here is the same one that has been in circulation in France for many years. Ironically enough, the first time I viewed Salo was exactly with this specific dub. Obviously, I don't think that it compares well to the original Italian track, but, given the film's history in Europe, I certainly understand why it was made available. This being said, the quality of the French track isn't comparable to that of the Italian, fully-restored track, but it is certainly acceptable.

Salò ou les 120 journées de Sodome Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Salo, d'hier a aujourd'hui (21 minutes) –a documentary offering raw footage from the filming of Salo at Cibecitta in May, 1975 where Pasolini is seen directing and instructing the cast during the horrific final scene of the film. In addition, there are sporadic comments by cast and crew members who talk about their involvement with this most controversial film. In Italian with optional French subtitles. (The same documentary is offered on the BFI release). In standard-def PAL.

Enfants de Salo (20 minutes) – four notable French directors – Catherine Breillat, Claire Denis, Bertrand Bonello and Gaspar Noe – deconstruct Pasolini's film and talk about its placement in the history annals of world cinema. Not subtitled. In standard-def PAL.

Salo, le dernier film de Pier Paolo Pasolini (10 minutes) – a short featurette offering stills from the production of the film (black and white footage is compared to the finalized, color-footage) where Pasolini is heard giving instructions to the cast. Courtesy of Cinemazero (produced for the film's 30th anniversary in 2005). In Italian with optional French subtitles. In standard-def PAL.

A Gallery of stills from the film and the production process - In black and white, and color. Theatrical trailer - offered with optional French subtitles. In standard-def PAL.

Les Archives de Salo - a picture-in-picture feature that allows you to see the film and at the same time see Pasolini commenting on specific scenes from Salo, archival black and white footage, etc. This is an exclusive Blu-ray featurette which isn't available on the SDVD release Carlotta have for the French market. (Please see our screengrabs).

The French release of Salo also arrives with a lavish booklet containing an overwhelming amount of photos from the film (this is a far more elaborate booklet than the one provided by BFI) as well as information about the restoration of the film, courtesy of James White, synopsis, a text from Pasolini, notes on the film, a scripted interview Pasolini did for Coririere della Sera on March 25, 1975; Pasolini sur "Salo ou les 120 journees de sodome"; an extract from an interview by Luisa Spagnoli - Mes films ne sont jamais erotiques; a preface to Roman de Sade by Gilber Lely; info on the Republic of Salo, personal information on Pasolini, extracts from the original poem, as well as a lavish portfolio with stills from the film.

Salò ou les 120 journées de Sodome Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

As I noted in the technical analysis above, my opinion on the BFI transfer, which has now been replicated by Carlotta for the French market, remains unchanged - it is the only one that I could recommend to those of you wishing to experience Pasolini's controversial work.