This has not aged well. It brought Pasolini to greater public attention and commercial success but along with the tawdry imitations abounding after his first of his 'Trilogy of Life' came a feeling of regret. And no wonder for though, at the time, there was much talk of liberation and free translation with a representation of the true essence of Chaucer it is a sad sight today. Apart from the much talked of appalling dub it is so clear now to see that most of the young street urchin looking cast was chosen less for their appropriateness for the movie and more as a reflection of the personal taste of the director. The buildings, inside and out are imaginatively used and beautifully shot whilst the English landscape looks divine but the coarse antics and behaviour of his, not so pretty boys, is most grating. The songs are badly sung and surprisingly annoying from the very beginning and overall this is a very difficult watch.
Review of The Canterbury Tales
