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.

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Plot Keywords:

boy | village | love | cinema | friendship | 

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Taglines:

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

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some sexuality

Details

Official Sites:

Asmik Ace [Japan] Official Facebook

Country:

Italy France

Language:

Italian English Portuguese

Release Date:

23 February 1990 (USA)

Also Known As:

Cinema Paradiso

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

Giuseppe Tornatore:  the person working the projection machine when Salvatore is watching the compilation of scenes that Alfredo made for him

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Goofs

When the film is borrowed from a neighboring theater, we see that the projector is apparently located in the balcony of the theater, not in an enclosed projection room. Furthermore, the projector has a "magnetic penthouse" sound pickup, an attachment used to play early stereophonic prints. This process would not be invented until 1953 and not used widely until years after nitrate film was phased out.

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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.

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Connections

Featured in The 79th Annual Academy Awards (2007)

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Soundtracks

"Love Theme"
by Ennio Morricone

User Reviews

As Good as Movies Get

Movies can wield a strange power over those who sit in the darkened seats of a theatre. The truly great ones manipulate your perception of reality, suspend your disbelief, and ultimately either alter or affirm your view on life. NUOVO CINEMA PARADISO is just such a movie. It is the near-perfect melding of direction, acting, script, sound track, and cinematography. Phillipe Noiret and Salvatore Cascio give the kind of performances usually associated with much more recognizable actors. The supporting cast looks like they could all be full-blooded Sicilians. The location shots add depth and realism to the entire production. Ennio Morricone's music is simply the most appropriate and emotive I have ever had the pleasure to hear in a theatre. Tornatore's script and direction are a joy, a breath of fresh air.

I will not spoil this story by repeating it, nor will I give away the ending, although it matters not a whit. I could disclose fully everything in this movie, and in seeing it, all my words would evaporate. There is nothing like the experience of sitting through it, becoming engulfed by it, and in the end, being changed.