Pierre Clémenti, born in Paris in 1942, emerged as a notable figure in European cinema during the late 1960s and 1970s. He is known for his roles in Sweet Movie (1974), where he portrayed the optimistic sailor, and The Year of the Cannibals (1969), showcasing his unique blend of charm and subversion. Clémenti's collaborations with avant-garde directors like Pier Paolo Pasolini in Pigsty (1969) and his participation in the provocative narratives of films like The Designated Victim (1971) reflect his commitment to challenging societal norms. His work remains a vital part of the conversation around cult and exploitation cinema.
The Year of the Cannibals
The streets of the city are littered with corpses. It is the result of the repression of a protest by the police. A decree of law prohibits the removal of the bodies, under penalty of death, by supreme order of the totalitarian regime. People pass the macabre scene with indifference. Only Antigone wants to bury her brother, but neither her family, nor her fiancé - who is the son of the prime minister - will help her. She finds help from Tiresias, a mysterious stranger who speaks an unknown language. The two dedicate themselves to burying the dead and for this they are arrested and tortured; at first they manage to escape but then they are killed by the police. However, they become a symbol for many young people who, from that moment, begin to collect the corpses of the rebels to bury them. I Cannibali, third feature film by Liliana Cavani, starring a trio of excellent actors (Pierre Clementi, Britt Ekland and Tomas Milian), is a modern reinterpretation of Sophocles' tragedy, made during the protest years of 1967-69. A film that stands out for its visionary intelligence, in the context of Italian political cinema.
