Salo or the 120 Days of Sodom (Salò o le centiventi giornate di Sodoma)

Set in the Nazi-controlled, northern Italian state of Salo during the days of Mussolini, four Fascist dignitaries round up sixteen perfect specimens of youth and take them together with guards, servants and studs to a palace near Marzabotto. In addition, there are four middle-aged women three of whom recount arousing stories whilst the fourth accompanies on the piano. The story is largely taken up with their recounting the stories of Dante and De Sade. Following this, the youths are executed whilst each libertine takes his turn as voyeur. This was Pasolini's last film before he was murdered. The last 10 minutes of executions are among the most revolting, memorable and beautiful (the camerawork, the music, the poignancy) in all cinema.