Love Meetings (1964)

part of QUEER DAY |

Armed with a probing microphone and considerable charm, Pier Paolo Pasolini roams the streets and beaches of Italy, playfully yet incisively questioning passers-by on thorny subjects including divorce, homosexuality, brothels and the gender divide.

At the heart of his inquiry lies an interrogation of conformism. A controversial and openly gay filmmaker with a defiantly transgressive body of work, Pasolini encourages his interviewees to speak candidly, pushing against the historical, religious and moral taboos of the time. He remains sharply critical of his own survey, questioning its scientific validity and representativeness through discussions with two sociologists. Viewed today, Pasolini’s attempt to bring together two Italys – progressive and conservative – resonates powerfully with contemporary polarisation. The result is a brisk and revealing sociological portrait of 1960s Italy, exposing unsettling continuities with the present, including gender-based violence and femicide.

– Thomas Streekstra