The central figure, referred to by the film’s title (Franco Citti), comes across as a rather unpleasant individual. He's abandoned his family in order to spend time with friends, gambling and drinking while exploiting "Maddalena" (Silvana Corsini) and living off her earnings. He seems satisfied with this situation until she gets into trouble with someone and is unfairly imprisoned for a year. Suddenly, his income disappears, forcing him to adapt. Finding employment proves difficult for him, and he doesn't seem particularly inclined to try anyway. That changes when he encounters "Stella" (Franca Pasut). She shares some characteristics with his former source of support, but she’s not a prostitute and is far more experienced than he initially assumes. He gradually develops feelings for her, but will he be able to overcome the worst aspects of his history before she tells him to leave? While it's certainly not lighthearted, I considered this initial film by Pasolini to be among his more cheerful works, allowing moments of humor to break up a story about exploitation and control. There’s no question that “Accattone” is an objectionable man; however, as the movie progresses, one begins to sense he might still have potential for change—and both the close-up camerawork and Citti's youthful presence help reveal this gradually. Pasut and Corsini deliver strong performances in roles that are harsh, realistic, and offer little prospect of improvement, while his young son "Iaio" (Danilo Alleva) often acts as an unexpected connection for his self-centered father. There’s always room to comment on the role of religion, and here a clear contrast is drawn between holiness and something else entirely... It's rarely seen now, but it’s worth dedicating a couple of hours to witnessing a Rome that Nero himself might have appreciated.

Source on TMDB