Cinema Paradiso (1988)
"Nuovo Cinema Paradiso" (original title)

A filmmaker recalls his childhood, when he fell in love with the movies at his village's theater and formed a deep friendship with the theater's projectionist.

Director:

Giuseppe Tornatore

Writers:

Giuseppe Tornatore (story), Giuseppe Tornatore (screenplay),

Stars:

Antonella Attili, Enzo Cannavale, Isa Danieli

Top 250 #73 | Won 1 Oscar. Another 19 wins & 16 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Antonella Attili	...	Maria Di Vita - Younger
Enzo Cannavale	...	Spaccafico
Isa Danieli	...	Anna
Leo Gullotta	...	Usher
Marco Leonardi	...	Salvatore 'Totò' Di Vita - Teenager
Pupella Maggio	...	Maria Di Vita - Older
Agnese Nano	...	Elena Mendola
Leopoldo Trieste	...	Father Adelfio
Salvatore Cascio	...	Salvatore 'Totò' Di Vita - Child
Tano Cimarosa	...	Blacksmith
Nicola Di Pinto	...	Village Idiot
Roberta Lena	...	Lia
Nino Terzo	...	Peppino's Father
Jacques Perrin	...	Salvatore 'Totò' Di Vita - Adult
Brigitte Fossey	...	Elena Mendola - Adult

Storyline

A famous film director remembers his childhood at the Cinema Paradiso where Alfredo, the projectionist, first brought about his love of films. He returns home to his Sicilian village for the first time after almost 30 years and is reminded of his first love, Elena, who disappeared from his life before he left for Rome.

---

Plot Keywords:

village | boy | love | cinema | film making | 

---

Taglines:

A celebration of youth, friendship, and the everlasting magic of the movies.

---

Genres:

Drama

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some sexuality

Details

Official Sites:

Asmik Ace [jp] Official Facebook

Country:

Italy France

Language:

Italian English Portuguese

Release Date:

23 February 1990 (USA)

Also Known As:

Cinema Paradiso: The New Version

Filming Locations:

Bagheria, Palermo, Sicily, Italy

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$25,899 (USA) (14 June 2002)

Gross:

$392,045 (USA) (26 July 2002)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cristaldifilm, Les Films Ariane, Rai Tre Radiotelevisione Italiana

Technical Specs

Runtime:

155 min 173 min (Europa Cinema Festival) 124 min (cut theatrical)

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

By the end of 1956, it was Italy which had the largest network of cinemas in the whole of Europe. A total of 17,000. This was the highest ever reached in the "old world".

---

Goofs

When the subtitles are shown for the film "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" it reads "Unforgivable songs" rather than "Unforgettable songs"

---

Quotes

[first lines]
Maria Di Vita - Older: [in Italian]
[on the phone]
Maria Di Vita - Older: Yes, Salvatore di Vita. You mean you don't know him, Miss? That's right, and I'm his mother. I've been calling from Sicily, all day long. I understand, he's not there.

---

Connections

Referenced in The Simpsons: Stealing First Base (2010)
Barts dream sequence while Nikki gives him CPR is a reference to the last scene of Nuovo cinema Paradisso: the kissing montage.

---

Soundtracks

"Love Theme"
by Ennio Morricone

User Reviews

A Masterpiece

I seldom watch Italian movies, (i saw it today for the first time) being Italian maybe i'm biased, but this one really stands out. A real masterpiece; i can't remember another movie so moving like this one, maybe Schindler's list; it makes you laugh and it makes you cry, yet it is so simple and straightforward. Maybe there lies its magic: no Hollywood superstars, no special effects, just pure emotions and feelings, love, fear, grief and regret, nostalgia for childhood and youth, memories of places and times that will not come back, memories of the loved ones. Some movies are there to entertain, some to scare, some to question. This movie is there to affect your feelings. Definitely to be seen.