A nostalgic look at a young boy's coming-of-age in postwar Italy and his fascination with a small local cinema, CINEMA PARADISO from director Giuseppe Tornatore is a famed and beloved classic.
"Alfredo is dying." Those words jolt the successful filmmaker Salvatore (played as a child by Salvatore Cascio, as a teen by Marco Leonardi, and as an adult by Jacques Perrin), into contemplating his childhood and the hours he spent in the projection booth of his adored local movie theater, Cinema Paradiso. Alfredo (Philippe Noiret), owner of the moviehouse, befriended and encouraged young Salvatore, known as "Toto" as he grew up in his small Sicilian home town, ravaged by the horrors of the war. The cinema offered escape and fantasy to the townspeople, including Toto's mother, a grieving war widow. In one breathtaking scene a popular comedy is projected onto the walls of the town square and the entire town glows in the dreamy light of projected celluloid, washing away the harsh realities of poverty and grief. As Toto grows to manhood, his friendship with his mentor deepens. With the love and guidance of the aging man, Toto navigates the trials of first love and builds on his ever-growing passion for the cinema. Ultimately, it is Alfredo who convinces Toto to leave his village to pursue his dreams of becoming a director. But as Salvatore thinks back on his youthful romances and his innocent love of movies, he comes to realize that perhaps his success has come at a very high price. A beautifully filmed tribute to the power of movies that captivated an entire generation of filmgoers, CINEMA PARADISO is an unforgettable masterpiece.
Theatrical rerelease: JUNE 14, 2002 (LA/NY)
This 170-minute version of the film, using the title CINEMA PARADISO: THE ORIGINAL VERSION, recaptures footage that was original cut from the film.
A "Special Edition" version also exists, which provides more detail on Salvatore's relationship with Elena, and Alfredo's role in influencing it.
Shared the Special Grand Jury Prize at Cannes with "Too Beautiful for You."
DVD Features:
Full Frame - 1.33
Director of Photography
Blasco Giurato: ITALIAN DOP
Review 1:
"...CINEMA PARADISO itself possesses enough command and self-conviction to demonstrate that movies can still manage to manifest an alternative universe..."
Source: Sight and Sound
p.64 12/01/1989
Review 2:
"...An enchanting, bittersweet movie..."
Source: Chicago Sun-Times
p.24 02/07/2003
Review 3:
5 stars out of 5 -- "Alive with rich period detail and lovely acting....It's a genuine classic."
Source: Ultimate DVD
p.119 05/01/2007
Review 4:
"...Movie lovers will lose their hearts to CINEMA PARADISO....Magic, romance and fun..."
Source: Rolling Stone
p.39 02/22/1990
Review 5:
"...It's a shining valentine to the movies....Its gets right at the messy, impure, wondrous way they capture and enrapture us..."
Source: Los Angeles Times
p.F1 02/16/1990
Review 6:
"...Told in amber-toned flashbacks, CINEMA PARADISO is a film all about glorious, beautiful nostalgia..."
Source: Total Film
p.131 07/01/2003
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