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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
90 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
  • Directors
    • 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
  • Directors
    • 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
      • 32 wins & 21 nominations total

    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

    Photos90

    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)
    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)
    Maria Grazia Cucinotta 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)
    • Directors
      • 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 Siskel & Ebert: 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
    7/10
    A Love Story Between Men
    'Il Postino' is a love story between men. There's something poetic about that, in this movie about love & poetry. Neither of them is gay, mind you. In fact, a ravishing beauty (Maria Grazia Cucinotta) is the object of the title character's affection. Still, this movie belongs to Philippe Noiret and the Oscar-nominated Massimo Troisi. Noiret is a Chilean poet, exiled in Italy for his communist leanings. Troisi is the postman, a man going nowhere who comes to idolize this intelligent poet. They become friends and Noiret essentially Cyranos Troisi into Cucinotta's ample heart.

    I didn't find the entire film to be heart-rending, but the final scenes add deep resonance to the material. My eyebrows were raised when the movie ended and there was a "For Massimo" credit. Troisi died less than a day after they finished shooting. It seems fitting that the end of the film is bittersweet because the cast & crew had been working with a dying man who wanted nothing more than to finish this final project. 'Il Postino' ended up grossing a boatload of money, so his subtle performance clearly struck a chord with audiences.

    Troisi got all the press for his fine work, but Noiret is certainly his equal. Director Michael Radford does well to stay out of their way. I like how he didn't sentimentalize the Troisi/Cucinotta relationship. He's infatuated with her, but that diminishes a bit once he gets her. They're a fair representation of a real couple who were brought together for what might have been the wrong reasons. In fact, the film is filled with surprises. It's a quiet character study, but all the players in 'Il Postino' go through earth-shaking changes of personal proportions. And the Noiret/Troisi friendship is right at the heart of the matter.
    helpful•27
    11
    • flickershows
    • Sep 20, 2004

    FAQ2

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

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 22, 1996 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • Italy
      • France
      • Belgium
    • Official site
      • Official site
    • Languages
      • Italian
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
      • The Postman (Il Postino)
    • Filming locations
      • Pollara, Salina Island, Aeolian Islands, Messina, Sicily, Italy(rural and beach scenes)
    • Production companies
      • Cecchi Gori Group Tiger Cinematografica
      • Penta Distribuzione
      • Esterno Mediterraneo Film
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $3,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $21,848,932
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $95,310
      • Jun 18, 1995
    • Gross worldwide
      • $21,898,920
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 48 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.66 : 1

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