CINEMA PARADISO (Nuovo Cinema Paradiso) (1988) - ♦♦♦♦♦

Directed by - Giuseppe Tornatore

Written by - Giuseppe Tornatore, Peter Fernandez, Vanna Paoli

Starring - Philippe Noiret, Salvatore Cascio, Marco Leonardi, Jacques Perrin

"No film has ever been as successful as Cinema Paradiso in portraying the nostalgia and power of cinema. This is the story of a man who, after hearing the death of a man named Alfredo, is brought back to the days of his youth in a small Sicilian town where Alfredo used to be a projectionist in the local cinema. Tornatore is a spectacular filmmaker – the cinematography in his films is always superlative sometimes to the point of distraction. But here, in Cinema Paradiso, everything works to perfection. The photography and complex but tasteful camera movements heighten the poetry and softness of the central storyline of the friendship between Toto and Alfredo – that has since gone on the record as one of the most touching in cinema history. The character of Alfredo, memorably interpreted by Philippe Noiret, is practically magical juxtaposing his small town wisdom with Hollywood philosophy by constantly quoting the movies. Furthermore, Cinema Paradiso is incredibly entertaining, perfectly balancing lough out loud comedy with heart breaking drama in a poignant and delightful infectious mix. An invaluable added bonus is added by Ennio Morricone, established music genius, with one of his greatest compositions of all time. By paying tribute to film classics, Cinema Paradiso becomes a classic in its own right. A wonderful spectacle of celluloid brilliance, the overall feeling is that this film may have silently inspired more generations of cinephiles and filmmakers than many dare to openly admit."

Drama, Italy/France