Accattone is a 1961 Italian drama film written and directed by Pier Paolo Pasolini. Despite an original screenplay, the film is often perceived as a cinematic rendition of Pasolini's earlier novels, particularly Ragazzi di vita (The Ragazzi, 1955) and Una vita violenta (A Violent Life, 1959). Pasolini's first film as a director, Accattone uses what would later be seen as his trademark characteristics; a cast of non-professional actors hailing from the film's setting, and thematic emphasis on impoverished individuals.