There are two points where I would like to criticize Pasolini's film as an adaptation, despite the fact that I am generally satisfied with it overall. On the one hand, the extent of the horror, the thematic destruction of the human body, as well as the rate of descent into the dark recesses of the human soul, is very incomplete and weakened. Yes, De Sade's original is much, much worse than this, with a much clearer and more defined chain of events. It is so horrible that the disgust and mental anguish I felt after reading it almost made me physically ill. Pasolini toned down this effect, probably because it is almost impossible to make an authentic film of 120 Days of Sodom, even with a 2 hours running time. The level of amoral brutality that the original presents would further alienate the viewer from what they saw. So, I understand and accept it from a filmmaking point of view, but I still criticize the final result due to the effect deficit.
The other thing is the setting. I understand and well aware that Pasolini can draw mostly from the inglorious era of Fascist Italy, but again: this works against the required effect. De Sade's novel wanted to be a universal when he gathered together the most typical representatives of the power elite to commit the inhuman atrocities described in the story. The Prince, the Bishop, the President and the Banker - the pillars and symbols of secular and religious power. Their figure is meant to symbolize that this event can happen anywhere, in any country, under any system or regime, because the abuse of power, the act of dominating the weak, the immoral pleasures of tormenting and destroying the vulnerable are not the characteristics of this or that age or environment, but such a dark desire that the libertarian principles only brings it out from the depths of the human soul. It is not the corruption that comes with power, but an inherent corruption that is made possible by power. It's needless to argue here whether this is the case or not, just as it's needless to mix into the equation how De Sade wanted to attack the church bigotry of the time with his exaggerated and transgressive novel. The point is that by Pasolini setting the story in the age of fascism, the viewer can draw the false conclusion: -Oh, so those ugly bad fascists are like that, huh? Well, then we can relax, because we live in a democratic state governed by law and morality, and we have nothing to fear!
However, there is no reason to relax, because under the thin mask of law and morality, the monster is lurking, ready to step forward again, or to continue its activities behind the scenes, as before. So don't spare yourself the introspection and the uncomfortable feeling of watching from the corner of your eye when the beast appears from the shadows...
The other thing is the setting. I understand and well aware that Pasolini can draw mostly from the inglorious era of Fascist Italy, but again: this works against the required effect. De Sade's novel wanted to be a universal when he gathered together the most typical representatives of the power elite to commit the inhuman atrocities described in the story. The Prince, the Bishop, the President and the Banker - the pillars and symbols of secular and religious power. Their figure is meant to symbolize that this event can happen anywhere, in any country, under any system or regime, because the abuse of power, the act of dominating the weak, the immoral pleasures of tormenting and destroying the vulnerable are not the characteristics of this or that age or environment, but such a dark desire that the libertarian principles only brings it out from the depths of the human soul. It is not the corruption that comes with power, but an inherent corruption that is made possible by power. It's needless to argue here whether this is the case or not, just as it's needless to mix into the equation how De Sade wanted to attack the church bigotry of the time with his exaggerated and transgressive novel. The point is that by Pasolini setting the story in the age of fascism, the viewer can draw the false conclusion: -Oh, so those ugly bad fascists are like that, huh? Well, then we can relax, because we live in a democratic state governed by law and morality, and we have nothing to fear!
However, there is no reason to relax, because under the thin mask of law and morality, the monster is lurking, ready to step forward again, or to continue its activities behind the scenes, as before. So don't spare yourself the introspection and the uncomfortable feeling of watching from the corner of your eye when the beast appears from the shadows...