Saw Accattone, a film by Pasolini. The title, Accattone, is a derogatory term for a someone who gets by on petty crime - a grifter. Accordingly, it follows a small-time pimp whose girl goes to jail. Without her, he resorts to small thefts, gambling, some paid work. The protagonist is unhappy through it all though. He basically has no desire to work, content to loaf around and chase girls. He's not an evil person and does not intentionally cause pain but he's often the agent and instrument of misery.
I had a hard time feeling anything about this film. This may stem from some failure in empathy, but I couldn't bring myself to particularly root for the protagonist (why doesn't he just get a job?) or to hate him. He's not a villain. The protagonist is a bum, yes, but he seems harmless. He cheats his friends mostly and they cheat him right back, laughing and lazing about.
The film opens with a bet about whether it's safe to swim after eating. One man insists it's fatal but Accattone laughs and bets him that he could survive. This is an encapsulation of the film. He's fatalistic but happy.
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