Salò or 120 Days Of Sodom

Now I have to warn you, this post is not for the easily offended. There are some pictures and general content regarding the film in question that will probably make you sick so be warned!

Now, it's been a hell of a long time since I posted on here, I have been spending lots of time on my Youtube page, got about 60 videos up and finally starting to get subscribers and views so please go check that out. For this post I thought I would come back with a bang! Over the past few weeks I have started to look back and watch some of the greatest gems in movie history. No, I'm not talking blockbusters, I am talking about the exploitation films of the past. Bruno Mattei's masterpiece Hell Of The Living Dead, Zombie Flesh Eaters trilogy, Shivers, Nightmares In A Damaged Brain and lots of other great video nasties. The latest film is one I got turned onto by watching the review from the Cinema Snob.



The film in question is called Salò or 120 Days Of Sodom from 1975 from the director Pier Paolo Pasolini. The film is based on a book called 120 Days Of Sodom by Marquis de Sade. For all the info check out the wikipedia page for more information because it would be one boring post me telling you every detail. The film is basically about 4 wealthy fascist libertines in Italy in 1944. They kidnap a total of 18 teenage boys and girls and basically subject them to 120 days worth of torture, sexual abuse and even death. The film is based in 3 chapters with each chapter focusing on a story told by a different old aged prostitute. The stories told by each prostitute sexually excite the libertines and influence the torture brought upon the teenagers.



Now to the detailed part. I will go over some of the parts of the film that shocked me (trust me it takes a lot for a film to do that). Aside from the rape and buggery (sometimes we get libertine on libertine action too) there are some pretty harsh and sometimes genuinely disturbing scenes. Probably the most notorious being a scene where all the girls in the group have been giving specific diets so that when they shit their shit is let's say.... even more foul than usual... and later on the scene there is a banquet where we are treated to seeing everyone eating the shit that has been served on a nice big silver platter! There is a scene of one of the teenagers being made to urinate on one of the libertines faces. Body fluids aside we are also lucky to witness the teenagers being treated like dogs and being thrown scraps and just for measure one of the teenagers is made to eat the food with nails hidden inside... although not visually graphic... the idea of it made my throat feel rather strange. There are lots os horrible scenes but one of the worst for me personally is when one of the prostitutes is talking about a girl she knew who had a rat inserted into her vagina and then to make it worse the vagina being sewn up... thank god we only hear about that.



The finale of the film is where most of the action is. This is when all those who have broken the rules set by the libertines get subject to slow painful deaths. This scene is composed through the viewpoint of each libertine while they watch the others commit the torture. Here we see lashings, nipples burnt, rape, tongues being cut off, eyes being cut out and other ghastly deeds. Like I said, this film is not those of a weak stomach! I did genuinely enjoy this film (I don't know what that says about me). It was filmed beautifully. Some scenes are genuine pieces of art. The story is interesting, it's unwillingly a examination of the human condition. There are lots of metaphors and symbolism in the film. For example, the shit easting feast (which is in the humourously named Circle Of Shit chapter) is a reference to mass produced food... shit basically. Most of the sexual intercourse contained in the film is always of a degrading fashion and could be a reference to how sex mad the human species can be.



Overall, this film is a shocking and rather disturbing piece of film. However, it is beautifully filmed and it does actually tackle some rather important topics. This is a film you will either love or hate. I personally, enjoyed it (not in a perverted way of course, more in an artistic way) and it's now one of my favourite films.

As a little treat check out the opening of the film below. No, there is no graphic content just a wonderful piece of music from Mr. Morricone. Enjoy!



.acdx

Sketchbook Diary

Hey Children Of The Blog!
(A very poor Children Of The Corn satire title I know!)
For the past couple of days I have done something that I have never dared do before. I decided to start a diary. Yeah that doesn't sound all that exciting I know but hear me out. I was almost afraid of starting a diary, the idea of being in a dark place.... getting yourself into a good place.... coming across your diary... reminders of the dark place.... later at some unknown time, feelings and reminders of that time running through your head... yeah you get the picture.
That does sound very melodramatic I know but thanks to the comedy of Larry David, I think about stupid social occasions and reading into the slightest thing.... that little too much. You see, I am not a normal person. No, I'm not the sort that ends up shooting up a school or turning to child pornography. I mean, my brain thinks in silly ways. I would explain it to you but I would get paranoid and probably bore or annoy you to death.
(Ed: Peter seems to have gone off track here, we do apologise. His pills have been administered.)
ANYWAY! Where was I? Oh yes that's right! Diary!. Now I didn't want to be boring have one of those old fashioned text based diaries (DUH! That is so 20th Century!). No, I thought I would have a visual kind of diary. A place where I can draw what I see and feel and such. It might not be an original idea but already it is helping me. It's nice to have somewhere private where you can let even the smallest thing on your mind out. Below I are a couple of pictures of my Little Black Book as it where. I do suggest anyone with a complex brain or an artistic brain do this. It is pretty damn good and it does help.



I would show you some other pages but you are going to have to wait until I am famous and don't care about anything before you get to see what's inside. It's private buddy! OK!?

But seriously, if you don't already do this, I mightily suggest you give it a try, it's like most things to be honest; it's a bit tedious at the start and you feel nervous but just roll with it, it gets better as you go along.

So there you have it!
A little post about something creative for once! On the design front I haven't really done anything apart from little things in my diary, some Youtube videos and some crappy uni work. As a little treat for the people who have made it this far, I have a little song for you!

Hall & Oates- Private Eyes

.acdx

Oh before I go!
Look out over the next few days for a post about the sketchbooks of Art Spiegelman. Some really interesting stuff.

Viva La ZEVOLUTION!

Hello once again Bloggers and Blogettes.
Uncle .acdx is back for another post with some added disco goodness. Today I went to one of my favourite shops ever; Piccadilly Records. I love this shop. It's seriously on par with American Apparel (yeah I don't know if that's spelt right). If you shop in Manchester often, you probably know this shop, you probably know of this shop anyway but if you don't..... go check it out. They have EVERYTHING. I have bought so many good albums, 12's, singles and such from there, most of the stuff you can't find in a mainstream shop.



I digress, please forgive me. So while I was in this fine establishment (wait! I thought you already digressed!?) I picked up a couple of beasts! I want to share one of these fine purchases with you. Today, if you haven't guessed by the picture at the top, I am sharing ZEVOLUTION- ZE Records Re-edited. Now, ikeepforgettin' (check my blog roll for their page) have already posted this amazing album but hey, I want to aswell because I'm all about the good music and design right (psssst... awesome new design related post up soon)! Every song on this album is awesome but my choices are the Greg Wilson, Rub 'n' Tug and Social Disco Club edits. You will love this album and hopefully, like me; go look for the originals and start your quest to find the ZE back catalogue (do I detect a potential post there too?).

VA: ZEVOLUTION: ZE Records Re-Edited

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