Theorem cover art

Theorem Details

1968 Certificate 15
  • Rated:
  • 70
  • from 331 members

The eccentric Italian director's atmospheric tale of a prominent, dysfunctional Milanese family which engineers its own destruction when a spiritually minded stranger moves in on them. Read more

Starring Terence Stamp, Silvana Mangano, Massimo Girotti, Anne Wiazemsky
Director Pier Paolo Pasolini, Pier Paolo Pasolini
Genres Drama, World Cinema

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Theorem cover art

Theorem

The eccentric Italian director's atmospheric tale of a prominent, dysfunctional Milanese family which engineers its own destruction when a spiritually minded stranger moves in on them.

Starring Terence Stamp, Silvana Mangano, Massimo Girotti, Anne Wiazemsky, Laura Betti, Andres Jose Cruz, Ninetto Davoli
Director Pier Paolo Pasolini, Pier Paolo Pasolini
Studio BFI VIDEO
Run time DVD: 1 hr 32 mins
Certificate Certificate 15
Genres Drama, World Cinema
Language DVD: Italian
Hearing-impaired English
Subtitles DVD: English
Released DVD: 24 Sep 2007
Production year: 1968
Format DVD

  • Critics' reviews (2) of Theorem

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  • Pasolini embodied many of the contradictions that were brewing into violence in pre-1968 Europe, and so does his film, which is at once materialistic and transcendent, painfully sincere and bitterly sarcastic

    • New York Times
    • Posted 08 Oct 2007

  • In Theorem, Pasolini achieved his most perfect fusion of Marxism and religion with a film that is both political... read more on Time Out

    • Time Out
    • Posted 04 Nov 2008

  • Most helpful member's review of Theorem

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  • 6 out of 6 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 4 stars

    A film to challenge and make you think: this is not Hollywood!

    ‘Theorem’ was made by the brilliant but controversial director Pier Paolo Pasolini staring Brit Terence Stamp speaking his best Italian. He plays the un-named visitor to a wealthy family and proceeds to have sex with the entire household: from maid to master. For each this can be seen as some sort of purging or revelation. Half way through the film he departs leaving the family in a devastated state as each tries to come to terms with the implications of what he has awakened in them: from the daughter in a coma to the maid becoming a biblical miracle worker. If all of this sounds off-centre it certainly is! This is very much an enigmatic art house film. If you can cope with being challenged then this is a highly recommended film even though you may not agree with the philosophy Pasolini is selling: this film is drenched in his Marxist beliefs and obsession with the Catholic Church. It also fails to answer many questions it poses: is the visitor something divine – an angel or a devil? Although very tame by modern standards of sexuality the ideas were enough to send the Catholic Church into apoplexy in the 1960s and the film was unsuccessfully prosecuted in Italy for obscenity. Only a few years later Pasolini would be putting material in his films so explicit that it cannot be shown on TV even today! The disc also has an amazing interview with Terence Stamp that is essential viewing: he doesn’t have one good thing to say about Pasolini and his style of ‘directing’ him.

      • James Green from Surrey, England
      • Posted 19 Nov 2007 22:23

  • Most recent members' review of Theorem

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  • 4 out of 4 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 3 stars

    Greatness Denied

    Pasolini may be a terribly interesting (that is 'important') director, but all his films are fatally flawed. This one has a great idea (and perfect androgynous catalyst in Terence Stamp), but has far too much Italian pretense to really work. Besides which, Pasolini is techinally inept. Watch it for its potential Greatness only...

      • A customer from UK
      • Posted 06 Mar 2008 06:34

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Rating breakdown

331 Member ratings
  • 100
40
  • 90
17
  • 80
72
  • 70
56
  • 60
52
  • 50
30
  • 40
33
  • 30
6
  • 20
16
  • 10
9

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      • The eccentric Italian director's atmospheric tale of a prominent, dysfunctional Milanese family which engineers its own destruction when a spiritually minded stranger moves in on them....