Today’s quick review: Cinema Paradiso. Toto Di Vita (Jacques Perrin), a successful Italian movie director, returns to his hometown for the first time in decades when he hears that his closest childhood friend has died. The journey causes him to reminisce about his youth in rural Italy during the early 20th century. As a boy he was enthralled by the black-and-white movies at the local theater, and he soon made friends with Alfredo (Philippe Noiret), the gruff projectionist who worked there. His friendship with Alfredo and love of cinema guided him through love, loss, and his growth into a man, until finally he left his home to pursue his dream.
Cinema Paradiso is a finely crafted Italian drama from director Giuseppe Tornatore. The film follows Toto through his youth, with friends that come and go, unexpected losses, and golden moments that still burn brightly years later. To say that Cinema Paradiso is a coming of age film would be to sell it short. It reaches deeper to grasp the truest aspects of the human experience. Not every story in life can end well. Fortune changes, love grows old, and friends drift apart. But the memories remain. Giuseppe Tornatore captures this sentiment and uses it as the heart of a deeply moving film. And underscoring its scenes are the beautifully wistful notes of an oboe theme by composer Ennio Morricone.
Watch Cinema Paradiso if you ever get the chance. It is a heavy movie but well worth the emotional investment. Cinema Paradiso realizes the full potential of drama to find the tragic beauty in one person’s life. Many other films have attempted the same task and failed, but Cinema Paradiso’s poignant material and masterful execution set it apart. Go watch it. Those who dislike drama or bittersweet movies are encouraged to try it anyway, as the joy of being proven wrong will far outweigh the disappointment of being proven right.
8.5 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 9.5 out of 10 for near-perfection and being my personal favorite.