This film screened on Saturday 5th September 2015. 

The first of Pasolini’s ‘Trilogy of Life’ features a number of tales from Giovanni Boccaccio’s 14th century novel, linked by the story of an aspiring fresco painter (Pasolini himself). Across these episodes, we meet grave robbers, lustful nuns, unfaithful spouses, greedy in-laws, and all
manner of scoundrels. While The Decameron is one of the director’s most accessible and popular films, and represents Pasolini at his most playful, this ribald celebration of a time unfettered by modern attitudes towards sex and religion is also shot through with a shrewd portrayal of the consistency of human failings throughout history.

Showing as part of our Focus on Pier Paolo Pasolini (September 5th-13th). Abel Ferrara’s Pasolini opens at the IFI on Friday, September 11th.