Film Review: Cinema Paradiso
Cinema is Life, and Life is Cinema
Cinema is Life, and Life is Cinema
Cinema Paradiso is a film about the magic of cinema and one that is closest to my heart. This nostalgic coming-of-age story explores the relationship between Toto (Salvatore Cascio) and Alfredo (Philippe Noiret), the cinema projectionist in the small Sicilian town of Giancaldo in the years following World War II. The narrative unfolds in flashback from Toto's point of view, structured around three stages of his life: childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. Directed with great heart by Giuseppe Tornatore, the story is drawn from his childhood memories and was shot in Bagheria, Sicily, his hometown. The film went on to win several awards, including the 1989 Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film.
Many people attribute this film to igniting their cinephile journey, which is true for me as well. At its core, Cinema Paradiso is about love—love for family and love for cinema. It captures what cinema meant as a collective social experience and serves as a poignant reminder of why we fell in love with it in the first place. Cinema Paradiso is one of those rare films that can genuinely be described as cathartic. While many people visit Sicily for their love of The Godfather—a trip that’s certainly on my bucket list—I also wish to visit for Cinema Paradiso. Widely considered one of the best Italian films ever made, Cinema Paradiso features incredible performances by Philippe Noiret, Salvatore Cascio, Marco Leonardi, Jacques Perrin, and Pupella Maggio. Not to mention, the exquisite musical score by Ennio Morricone is one for the ages and will remain etched in my heart forever.
As with every piece of entertainment, Cinema Paradiso eventually comes to an end, and it does so in the most soul-stirring way possible. While finishing this review, I can’t help but ask myself: Will any film ever make me feel this way again?
