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IMDbPro

The Postman

Original title: Il postino
  • 19941994
  • PGPG
  • 1h 48m
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
37K
YOUR RATING
Massimo Troisi in The Postman (1994)
Trailer
Play trailer0:44
2 Videos
91 Photos
BiographyComedyDrama
A simple Italian postman learns to love poetry while delivering mail to a famous poet, and then uses this to woo local beauty Beatrice.A simple Italian postman learns to love poetry while delivering mail to a famous poet, and then uses this to woo local beauty Beatrice.A simple Italian postman learns to love poetry while delivering mail to a famous poet, and then uses this to woo local beauty Beatrice.
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
37K
YOUR RATING
    • Michael Radford
    • Massimo Troisi(uncredited)
  • Writers
    • Antonio Skármeta(novel "Ardiente Paciencia")
    • Furio Scarpelli(story)
    • Giacomo Scarpelli(story)
  • Stars
    • Massimo Troisi
    • Philippe Noiret
    • Maria Grazia Cucinotta
    • Michael Radford
    • Massimo Troisi(uncredited)
  • Writers
    • Antonio Skármeta(novel "Ardiente Paciencia")
    • Furio Scarpelli(story)
    • Giacomo Scarpelli(story)
  • Stars
    • Massimo Troisi
    • Philippe Noiret
    • Maria Grazia Cucinotta
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 136User reviews
    • 39Critic reviews
    • 81Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 Oscar

    Videos2

    Il Postino
    Trailer 0:44
    Watch Il Postino
    Il Postino aka The Postman trailer
    Trailer 1:25
    Watch Il Postino aka The Postman trailer

    Photos91

    Maria Grazia Cucinotta and Philippe Noiret in The Postman (1994)
    Maria Grazia Cucinotta and Massimo Troisi in The Postman (1994)
    Maria Grazia Cucinotta in The Postman (1994)
    The Postman (1994)
    Maria Grazia Cucinotta and Massimo Troisi in The Postman (1994)
    Maria Grazia Cucinotta and Massimo Troisi in The Postman (1994)
    Maria Grazia Cucinotta and Massimo Troisi in The Postman (1994)
    Maria Grazia Cucinotta, Philippe Noiret, and Massimo Troisi in The Postman (1994)
    Maria Grazia Cucinotta and Massimo Troisi in The Postman (1994)
    Maria Grazia Cucinotta, Philippe Noiret, and Massimo Troisi in The Postman (1994)
    Philippe Noiret in The Postman (1994)
    Philippe Noiret in The Postman (1994)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Massimo Troisi
    Massimo Troisi
    • Mario Ruoppolo
    Philippe Noiret
    Philippe Noiret
    • Pablo Neruda
    Maria Grazia Cucinotta
    Maria Grazia Cucinotta
    • Beatrice Russo
    Renato Scarpa
    Renato Scarpa
    • Telegrapher
    Linda Moretti
    Linda Moretti
    • Donna Rosa
    Sergio Solli
    • Peasant
    Carlo Di Maio
    Carlo Di Maio
    • Priest
    Nando Neri
    • Marshal
    Vincenzo Di Sauro
    Orazio Stracuzzi
    Orazio Stracuzzi
    Alfredo Cozzolino
    • Di Cosimo's Associate
    Mariano Rigillo
    Mariano Rigillo
    • Di Cosimo
    Anna Bonaiuto
    Anna Bonaiuto
    • Matilde
    Calogero Azzaretto
    • Bookseller
    • (uncredited)
    Simona Caparrini
    Simona Caparrini
    • Elsa Morante
    • (uncredited)
    Angelo Casadei
    • Cinema Spectator
    • (uncredited)
    Chuck Riley
    • Narrator of Theatrical Trailer
    • (voice)
    • (uncredited)
      • Michael Radford
      • Massimo Troisi(uncredited)
    • Writers
      • Antonio Skármeta(novel "Ardiente Paciencia")
      • Furio Scarpelli(story) (screenplay)
      • Giacomo Scarpelli(story) (screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Writer/co-director/star Massimo Troisi postponed heart surgery so he could complete the film. The day after filming was complete, he suffered a fatal heart attack.
    • Quotes

      Mario Ruoppolo: Poetry doesn't belong to those who write it; it belongs to those who need it.

    • Alternate versions
      The Italian version of the film includes an additional title credit for Massimo Troisi, listed as co-director of the movie together with Michael Radford.
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: First Knight/Party Girl/Species/Batman: Mask of the Phantasm/Il Postino (1995)
    • Soundtracks
      Madreselva
      Written by Francisco Canaro (as F. Canaro) and Luis César Amadori (as L.C. Amadori)

      Performed by Carlos Gardel

      Courtesy of E. Musical Pirovano

    User reviews136

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    Mesmerizing film about friendship, poetry, and love.
    Set in the early 1950s on a small Italian island, there are three central characters in this movie, one real and the other two fictional. The real one is Chilean poet Pablo Neruda (played by French actor Noiret who resembles Neruda quite nicely). Neruda died in 1973, but really did spend several years in exile in Italy, and really is a world-famous poet.

    In this fictional story, simple and honest, but somewhat dim, 40-something Mario Ruoppolo (Massimo Troisi, who died of heart failure right before the movie was released) is the son of a small time fisherman. Mario really doesn't like the fishing, but has no job. At dad's encouragement, he finds a temporary job as a postman, "il postino." The famous poet is moving into the small village and a man with a bicycle is needed to deliver his mail daily. It pays very little in this poor village, but it is a job. And the friendship that eventually develops between Neruda and Mario changes their lives.

    The third central character is pretty and sexy 20-something Beatrice (Maria Grazia Cucinotta) who works in her fiercely protective aunt's bar and restaurant. Mario admires her from afar, but Neruda's poetry gives Mario an entry. He tells Neruda later, "Poetry doesn't belong to those who write it, it is for those who need to use it."

    A very charming and meaningful movie on DVD for those who don't mind reading English subtitles. Or, listen to it in Italian or French. Some of my favorite scenes were the conversations between Mario and the poet when the mail was delivered.

    SPOILERS FOLLOW. Mario manages to win the affections of Beatrice through his poetry and they marry. The political climate changes in Chile allowing Neruda to return there. Mario is sad that Neruda does not seem to remember them. But he turns up perhaps 6 or 8 years later, meets Mario's young son and Beatrice, but finds that Mario had died in a rumble during a Communist rally in the square. The movie ends with Neruda on the beach where he and Mario had had so many wonderful conversations, reflecting on the beauty of the island and how it influenced his poetry. And the friendship with Mario.
    helpful•22
    6
    • TxMike
    • Oct 19, 2005

    FAQ2

    • Is this film based on real events?
    • What does the sign say above the café where Beatrice works?

    Details

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    • Release date
      • March 22, 1996 (United States)
      • Italy
      • France
      • Belgium
      • Official site
      • Italian
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Pollara, Salina Island, Aeolian Islands, Messina, Sicily, Italy
    • Production companies
      • Cecchi Gori Group Tiger Cinematografica
      • Penta Distribuzione
      • Esterno Mediterraneo Film
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • 1 hour 48 minutes
      • Color
      • Dolby Stereo

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