| Director | Pier Paolo Pasolini |
|---|---|
| Genre | drama film |
| Runtime | 120 min |
| Country | Italy |
Vittorio Cataldi, nicknamed "Accattone" (literally "scrounger"), lives a relatively calm life as a pimp on the outskirts of Rome. Using his wife, Maddalena, as a prostitute, and mooching bits from his own company, he is able to afford a living without working.
His world is disrupted when some members of the Mafia try to avenge their boss, Ciccio, Maddalena's ex husband who is now in jail because of Maddalena's report. To avoid the gang's wrath, Accattone gets rid of Maddalena, and the Mafia members injure her. What's more, Maddalena tries to frame two minor thieves, Cartagine and another boy, who are members of a minor gang led by Balilla. Therefore, the girls ends up in prison due to both false testimony and prostitution. With his income gone and little interest in regular work, Accattone initially attempts to reconcile with the estranged mother of his child but faces rejection from her relatives.
Turning to a simple working girl named Stella, Accattone endeavors to persuade her into prostitution. Despite her initial willingness, a traumatic encounter with her first client leaves her in tears, leading to her expulsion from the car. Falling in true love with the girl, Accattone briefly tries working as an iron worker to support them, but he abandons the effort after just one day.
In prison, Maddalena learns from fellow prostitute "Amore", who is arrested for prostitution, that her "beloved" now frequents another girl. Seeking revenge, Maddalena reports Accattone, and the police starts watching over him.
Haunted by a dream of his own death, Accattone turns to a life of theft with Balilla and his gang, ultimately meeting a tragic end in a traffic accident while attempting to evade the police on a stolen motorcycle. His last words, spoken to Cartagine, are "Ah, mo' sto bene" ("I'm feeling good now".)