Whoever Says the Truth Shall Die

Pier Paolo Pasolini (1922-1975) is revered by many, especially those on the left, not only as a filmmaker, but also as a poet, novelist, Marxist political theorist, and activist. Dutch filmmaker Philo Bregstein's 1981 documentary Whoever Says the Truth Shall Die is part biography, part panegyric, and part conspiracy-theory investigation of Pasolini's violent death—supposedly at the hands of a male prostitute whom the gay Pasolini had picked up (the young man initially confessed to the crime, but recanted after his release from prison, and many believe that Pasolini was actually assassinated by neo-fascist thugs). The film successfully covers the creative aspects of Pasolini's life, offering a taste of his artistic and political work both in print and on celluloid. Brief excerpts of Pasolini talking about his ideas are buttressed by longer assessments from friends such as Alberto Moravia and Bernardo Bertolucci, with archival footage, informative narration, snippets from Pasolini's films and poems, newspaper stories, and still photographs—including grisly ones of his corpse—supplementing the personal testimony. DVD extras include a booklet that offers a solid introduction to the varied facets of Pasolini's career, as well as recent audio interviews with Bregstein and Bertolucci that raise further questions about the officially sanctioned explanation for his murder. An insightful, provocative documentary, this is highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (F. Swietek)