Il Postino (1994)

A simple Italian postman learns to love poetry while delivering mail to a famous poet, and then uses this to woo local beauty Beatrice.

Directors:

Michael Radford, Massimo Troisi (uncredited)

Writers:

Antonio Skármeta (novel), Furio Scarpelli (story)

Stars:

Massimo Troisi, Philippe Noiret, Maria Grazia Cucinotta

Won 1 Oscar. Another 31 wins & 19 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Philippe Noiret	...	Pablo Neruda
Massimo Troisi	...	Mario Ruoppolo
Maria Grazia Cucinotta	...	Beatrice Russo
Renato Scarpa	...	Telegrapher
Linda Moretti	...	Donna Rosa
Sergio Solli
Carlo Di Maio
Nando Neri
Vincenzo Di Sauro
Orazio Stracuzzi
Alfredo Cozzolino
Mariano Rigillo	...	Di Cosimo
Anna Bonaiuto	...	Matilde

Storyline

Pablo Neruda, the famous Chilean poet, is exiled to a small island for political reasons. On the island, the unemployed son of a poor fisherman is hired as an extra postman due to the huge increase in mail that this causes. Il Postino is to hand-deliver the celebrity's mail to him. Though poorly educated, the postman learns to love poetry and eventually befriends Neruda. Struggling to grow and express himself more fully, he suddenly falls in love and needs Neruda's help and guidance more than ever.

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Plot Keywords:

postman | poetry | island | poet | bicycle | 

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Taglines:

An irresistable treat about love, letters, and laughter!

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Genres:

Biography | Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for mild thematic elements

Did You Know?

Trivia

In real life Pablo Neruda was in his late 40s when he stayed on Capri in 1951-52. Actor Philippe Noiret was in his 60s when he played the role of the poet in this film ... which would have matched the timing of Antonio Skármeta's original novel Ardiente Paciencia (The Postman) which was set in 1969, when Neruda was 64. (The novel took place in Chile, at Neruda's coastal home in Isla Negra. The 1983 film adaptation by Skármeta and his stage play Burning Patience use that setting too, while the 2010 opera Il Postino uses Capri.)

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Quotes

Priest: Find yourselves a decent person who isn't a communist. If Neruda doesn't believe in God, why should God believe in Neruda? What sort of witness would he be?
Mario Ruoppolo: God never said a communist can't be a witness at a wedding. I'm not getting married then.
Beatrice Russo: You're more interested in Neruda as a witness than me as your wife.
Mario Ruoppolo: My darling, Neruda's a Catholic. I know he's a Catholic.
Priest: In Russia, communists eat babies. How can he be Catholic?
Beatrice Russo: He doesn't look the type.
Priest: Neruda has a pretty wife. He's getting on and he ...
[...]

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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.

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Connections

Referenced in The Holiday (2006)

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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 Reviews

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.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

Italy France Belgium

Language:

Italian Spanish

Release Date:

22 March 1996 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Postman (Il Postino)

Filming Locations:

Pollara, Salina Island, Aeolian Islands, Messina, Sicily, Italy

Box Office

Budget:

$3,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$95,310, 18 June 1995

Gross USA:

$21,848,932

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$21,898,920

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cecchi Gori Group Tiger Cinematografica, Penta Film, Esterno Mediterraneo Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

108 min 114 min (Blu-ray)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo Dolby SR

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1