Movie: Cinema Paradiso
Rating: R
Now Playing (In Italian with subtitles)
Carol's grade: A-
Carol's Take:
Originally released in the U.S. in 1988, "Cinema Paradiso" was awarded the OscarÆ for best foreign
language film. The passage of time has not dimmed the beauty of this lyrical Italian picture.
The action surrounds Salvatore, a successful movie director who's about to return to his hometown,
after 30 years, for a funeral. (The character is played as a adult by Jacques Perrin, as a child by
Salvatore Cascio, and as a teen by Marco Leonardi).
It is in flashback that we meet the tiny boy. The papa he can' remember has gone missing in World
War II. He lives in poverty with his mother and sister in a small Sicilian village not yet invaded by 20th
Century trappings.
Toto, as the lad is called, loves movies. He spends every possible minute in the local movie house
where guests set up the chairs, and the local priest cuts out the kissing from every film that's shown.
Toto befriends Alfredo (the wonderful Phillipe Noiret) - the childless, middle-aged projectionist. A
deep bond develops between the two. The movie portrays the relationship between them as Toto
grows up, finds first love and eventually leaves for bigger and better things.
The first act of "Cinema Paradiso," when Toto is a small boy, is marvelous. So is young Cascio. Only
the hardest of hearts could remain untouched by the joyous and tragic events that unfold.
The second act, when Toto comes of age, is equally great, but different. The love that resides within
by these characters is brought to full strength with a dose of gravity.
This new director's cut restores about 50 minutes of original material, most of it in the third act. Things
move a little more slowly here, but no lag can dampen the exuberance, humor and joy and that make
up this great film.
Movie lovers need to see "Cinema Paradiso" - because it's about movies and because it's about love.
The rapturous closing sequence, alone, is worth the price of admission ten times over.