The Decameron

Rating:
Summary: Probably Pasolini's best
Review: Pasolini's first film in his "Trilogy of Life". It tells nine separate tells from the book "The Decameron". All have a very ribald sense of humor and has a surprising amount (for an R rated film) of male and female nudity. Not for anyone who is easily offended but a fairly good film for those who are interested. Also there are a few really huge swipes at the Catholic Church--one story has a convent of nuns using a man to sexually satisfy all of them--and this is shown in a positive light!

Rating:
Summary: Probably Pasolini's best
Review: Pasolini's first film in his "Trilogy of Life". It tells nine separate tells from the book "The Decameron". All have a very ribald sense of humor and has a surprising amount (for an R rated film) of male and female nudity. Not for anyone who is easily offended but a fairly good film for those who are interested. Also there are a few really huge swipes at the Catholic Church--one story has a convent of nuns using a man to sexually satisfy all of them--and this is shown in a positive light!

Rating:
Summary: A very enetrtaining movie!
Review: Pasolini's The Decameron is a classic in its own right. Pasolini selected eight of Boccaccios stories and told them with allot of wit. In fact, he is not that a bad actor himself which certainly cannot be said for most directors.

Rating:
Summary: A captivating glimpse of medieval Italy
Review: The first of Pasolini's "Trilogy of Life" works, "The Decameron" is a reasonably faithful retelling of the classic octet of tales by Boccaccio. Pasolini is cast as Giotto the story teller who opens each tale. The medieval attitude to life and customs are portrayed with authenticity in earthy and natural imagery. The stories all have a humorous twist and Pasolini can't resist having a few light-hearted spars at the Catholic Church. The tales combined with wonderful singing and art makes this an enjoyable and unforgettable film experience. END

Rating:
Summary: A captivating glimpse of medieval Italy
Review: The first of Pasolini's "Trilogy of Life" works, "The Decameron" is a reasonably faithful retelling of the classic octet of tales by Boccaccio. Pasolini is cast as Giotto the story teller who opens each tale. The medieval attitude to life and customs are portrayed with authenticity in earthy and natural imagery. The stories all have a humorous twist and Pasolini can't resist having a few light-hearted spars at the Catholic Church. The tales combined with wonderful singing and art makes this an enjoyable and unforgettable film experience. END

Rating:
Summary: An entertaining tour through mediaeval Italy
Review: This is the first film in Pasolini's "Trilogy of Life" (the others being "The Canterbury Tales" and "Arabian Nights"). It contains eight tales from Boccaccio's mediaeval work, filmed with Pasolini's usual mixture of realism and visual beauty. The natural locations used here also give a lift to these stories combining love, lust, deception, murder, and religion.

As is common in his films, Pasolini has used a combination of non-professional actors and regulars, including Franco Citti in the 'false saint' story, and Ninetto Davoli as a man whose luck goes through several reverses before he comes out on top. Pasolini himself also appears as the mediaeval painter Giotto.

"The Decameron" is quite bawdy, although it never reaches the heights scaled by "The Canterbury Tales" in this department. On the plus side, however, it's in the original Italian (with English subtitles), so it doesn't suffer from the poor dubbing that afflicts "The Tales".

"The Decameron is weakened a bit by the disjointed editing. I'm not sure whether the original film was like that, or if this version used for the DVD was chopped about in some way. Even so, it's an entertaining film with varied stories and a nice period atmosphere.

Rating:
Summary: An entertaining tour through mediaeval Italy
Review: This is the first film in Pasolini's "Trilogy of Life" (the others being "The Canterbury Tales" and "Arabian Nights"). It contains eight tales from Boccaccio's mediaeval work, filmed with Pasolini's usual mixture of realism and visual beauty. The natural locations used here also give a lift to these stories combining love, lust, deception, murder, and religion.

As is common in his films, Pasolini has used a combination of non-professional actors and regulars, including Franco Citti in the 'false saint' story, and Ninetto Davoli as a man whose luck goes through several reverses before he comes out on top. Pasolini himself also appears as the mediaeval painter Giotto.

"The Decameron" is quite bawdy, although it never reaches the heights scaled by "The Canterbury Tales" in this department. On the plus side, however, it's in the original Italian (with English subtitles), so it doesn't suffer from the poor dubbing that afflicts "The Tales".

"The Decameron is weakened a bit by the disjointed editing. I'm not sure whether the original film was like that, or if this version used for the DVD was chopped about in some way. Even so, it's an entertaining film with varied stories and a nice period atmosphere.

Rating:
Summary: Folk Tale from another Era
Review: What a great film! So much joy in it. These nine stories are bawdy, funny, sad, and even profound. It's like watching a film from another, pre-cinema era. Like folk tales from several centuries ago captured somehow on film and left behind so we could experience their world through it. The camera wobbles, the editing is abrupt, the acting is direct and innocent. What a treat it all is! A gift to us, with great love, as if a child made it.