This lush anthology of erotic tales was filmed
in four countries (Iran, Nepal, Yemen, and Eritrea) over a
period of more than two years.
Completing the literary cycle begun by Pier Pasolini in Il
Decamerone and I Racconti di Canterbury, this one is perhaps
the most controversial of the lot, engendering reactions from
admiration to dismissal.
The connecting story deals with Mur el-Din (Franco Merli),
a prince searching for his slave girl lover, Zumurrud (Ines
Pellegrini), who has been kidnapped, only to disguise herself
as a man, take a wife, and become ruler of a great city.
Mur el-Din's quest carries him to the ends of his known world,
where he listens to several stories of carnality and betrayal.
The continuity and fluidity of the film depend entirely on
the version screened, because several different cuts exist;
producer Alberto Grimaldi insisted on a 130-minute release,
whereas Pasolini and United Artists preferred the unexpurgated
155-minute version with its ten stories all intact.
Cast:
Ninetto Davoli, Franco Merli, Ines Pellegrini, Tessa Bouche,
Alberto Argentino, Francesco Paolo Governale, Franco Citti,
Margarethe Clementi, Luigina Rocchi, Franca Sciutto, Luigi
Antonio Guerra
Director:
Pier Paolo Pasolini
Writers:
Pier Paolo Pasolini (writer)
Dacia Maraini (script collaboration) |
