A Serbian Film (2010)

[TripleHBK]

Originally Posted by Vulture Lives

Gotta disagree. Neither movie particularly bothered me, but I'd say that Salo made for the more uncomfortable viewing experience. The graphic nature of A Serbian Film sometimes works against it. You become aware that you're looking at special effects in a movie. And it goes so over-the-top on occasion that it becomes funny (intentionally or otherwise). Also, you can kinda sorta identify with Milos in A Serbian Film. He reacts to the situation with horror/anger, and he attempts to fight the bad guys. In Salo, there's absolutely nothing and no one to identify with. Your main characters are the worst sickos imaginable, and you're not really given any other characters to relate to. The victims are essentially just props. It's really hopeless. I'd also say that Pasolini was a better filmmaker than Spasojevic, so no surprise that Pasolini made the more effective film.

Personally I find the merits allotted to Salo to be significantly overstated. I do think the film certainly deserves some of the praise it has received but by and large I do not think it's anywhere near the cinematic masterpiece some may have a person believe. I also do not personally feel that it's a better produced film. I feel that the techincal aspects which make up A Serbian Film are actually stunningly well done... to the point where just how well made of a film it really is is grossly overshadowed by the controversy and effects sequences.

I've said it a few times before in this thread, but you could edit A serbian film down to a PG-13 effort by removing all visual effects and it would still be a really well made film. Salo on the otherhand, without the shocking sequences would mostly be a forgotten footnote in time as far as I am concerned. Salo's depictions of depravity while certainly disturbing are a bit more subdued as you alluded to, however without them the film simply falls apart into what is essentially a mediocre picture . A serbian Film's depictions of depravity meanwhile are so off the charts that it steers the picture into that of farce, however as Mr. Thomsen stated earlier... even with the visual depictions removed the film remains incredibly disturbing.

There is a certain level of unfair advantage that Salo has gained by being associated with the Criterion Collection... I'd argue that A Serbian Film is at an equivalent disadvantage by being associated with Unearthed Films and both distributors color the prestige of their associated films by the other types of content that they release. Truth be told neither would ever win a best picture award, however A Serbian Film certainly would be in contention for best effects and best sound design by my estimation which in itself elevates is above Salo in my book.