innocence vs. corruption

His films like 'Salò' and 'Teorema' brutally expose the corruption of innocence through sexuality and power, making the collision between the two his central obsession.

He masterfully juxtaposes the surface innocence of American small-town life with lurking darkness and corruption beneath, creating profound psychological contrast.

His films 'Au Revoir les Enfants' and 'Pretty Baby' explore how innocence—particularly childhood—becomes corrupted by war, exploitation, and moral compromise.