The Canterbury Tales | Racconti di Canterbury (1972)
Synopsis
The Canterbury Tales is based on the medieval narrative poem The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer. It is the second film in Pasolini's 'Trilogy of Life'. It won the Golden Bear at the 22nd Berlin International Film Festival.
The adaptation covers eight of the 24 tales and contains abundant nudity, sex, and slapstick humor. Many of these scenes are present or at least alluded to in the original as well, but some are Pasolini's own additions.
Pasolini, as a Chaucer stand-in, accompanies a group of Canterbury-bound pilgrims who speed their journey by telling each other earthy tales — a rich old man (Tom Jones’ Hugh Griffith) is deceived by his much-younger wife (Josephine Chaplin, daughter of Charlie); a pitiless seller of indulgences meets his match in a diabolic stranger; two students take revenge on a swindler by seducing his wife and daughter; a lusty widow decides to take a new husband — all climaxing in a Bosch-like vision of the afterworld. Winner, Golden Bear (Best Film), Berlin Film Festival.
Cast: Hugh Griffith, Laura Betti, Ninetto Davoli, Franco Citti, Josephine Chaplin, Alan Webb, Pier Paolo Pasolini, J.P. Van Dyne, Vernon Dobtcheff, Adrian Street, O.T., Derek Deadman, Nicholas Smith, George Bethell Datch, Dan Thomas, Michael Balfour, Jenny Runacre, Peter Cain, Daniele Buckler, John Francis Lane, Settimo Castagna, Athol Coats, Judy Stewart-Murray, Tom Baker
Berlinale (Competition): Golden Bear
Read about this film
Title: The Canterbury Tales | Racconti di Canterbury (1972)
Directed by: Pier Paolo Pasolini
Date of birth: 5 March 1922, Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
Date of death: 2 November 1975, Ostia, Latium, Italy
Writing credits:
Geoffrey Chaucer (novel), Pier Paolo Pasolini
Music by: Ennio Morricone
Country: Italy | France
Language: Italian | English
Color: Color
Runtime: 122 min.