I've not seen the film, but now I will
Thanks for posting. I didn't know this story.
I rented Accattone; I thought it was dreadful. (People say Teorama, Pasolini's film with Terrence Stamp, is very good, so it's on my list. I didn't like Salo, the only other Pasolini I've seen.)
I'm a HUGE Visconti fan. He's one of my top 5 filmmakers. If you haven't seen anything, I recommend Death in Venice. If you feel like seeing one of the more insane things even committed to film, Visconti's The Damned is good. (Beware the famously awful VHS transfer of The Damned; it's HIDEOUS. Unfortunately, the print used to make the DVD was not the best either, but it's MUCH better.)
I have yet to check out something with Magnani...
love, math+