Whoever Says the Truth Shall Die (1981)

In 1975, controversial Italian filmmaker Pier Paolo Pasolini (ACCATONE,THE DECAMERON, SALO) was brutally murdered by Pino the Frog, a seventeen year-old male prostitute who claimed self-defense. Pasolini, an avowed Marxist and open homosexual as well as an outspoken critic of Italy’s consumer culture and rampant political corruption, was admired by artists and intellectuals but reviled by conservative authorities. Documentary filmmaker Philo Bregstein probes the mysterious circumstances surrounding Pasolini’s death to suggest a possible cover-up or conspiracy by right-wing groups. Interviews with Pasolini’s peers and associates, including director Bernardo Bertolucci, actress Laura Betti, and writer Alberto Moravia, put the controversial filmmaker’s life and career into perspective, along with photos, readings of his poetry, and clips from these films

OK, but doesn't do justice to Pasolini...

I saw this film a while back. While it is interesting (especially if you're a Pasolini admirer), it really doesn't delve into Pasolini himself. It's also very short (barely an hour), and rather pricey considering its length. Pasolini was an extremely complex, intelligent, articulate, eclectic man, a poet, filmmaker, novelist, playwright, and political writer. He deserves a longer, more detailed documentary. This film mainly concentrates on his murder and the aftermath (which was really murky and controversial). Officially, he was killed by Giuseppe "Pino the Frog" Pelosi, a sometime hustler and small time crook, but most believe he was killed by Fascist elements in Italy, and that Pelosi was the fall guy. The murder case of Pasolini was recently opened up again. If you really want to know Pasolini, read Barth David Schwartz's masterful biography, Pasolini Requiem. January 28, 2007

Great to have this rarity on DVD!

It's wonderful that this previously super-rare title is finally coming to DVD! I have a bootleg VHS from ages ago. It is a provocative and sad documentary from 1981 that tells of the late,great Pier Paolo Pasolini's life,art and, ultimately, his tragic murder in 1975.

Very well done; features actors and friends from his films and the literary world.

Beware though, it DOES show graphic photographs of his disfigured, battered corpse in close up detail. If you have heard of Pasolini's fate, but never actually witnessed it, you may want to spare yourself the horrific sight. (If you're a fan and would rather remember him as he was in life.) October 19, 2006

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