If you can't see graphics on the right sidebar, do the big switch, Firefox Flicks!

Thursday, August 25, 2005

Cinema Paradiso

I've watched this film more than eight times and eight times I cried. This is truly cinema at its best: a celebration of human spirit, love, friendship and sacrifice. Two thumbs up for Giuseppe Tornatore and Philippe Noiret.

This movie chronicles the lives of two friends (the young Toto and the middle-aged Alfredo), their love for movies, their passion for making people happy and their sad and poignant love affairs.

The movie is full of wit and lyricism. It doubles as a social critique and a keen observer of human behavior. But the over all triumph of the movie is the raw depiction of the deepest human emotions when confronted by war and circumstances.

"Life is not like the movies," says Alfredo and he is correct because in this movie, movies themselves are Life.

out of five

You really have to watch this one!!!

Country: Italy/France
Released in 1988.
Cast: Philippe Noiret, Salvatore Cascio, Marco Leonardi, Jacques Perrin, Antonella Attili, Pupella Maggio, Agnese Nano, Leopoldo Trieste
Music: Ennio Moriconne
Director: Giuseppe Tornatore


4 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

a tour de force film. magical and lyrical!

9:50 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I love this film too! It's so moving especially the part where Salvatore went back to his hometown.

12:59 AM  
Blogger sonoftheprodigal said...

thanks! this is my favorite film of all time. i'm happy that you love it too.

10:15 PM  
Blogger lagal[og] said...

stumbled upon your site thru brother jeff's blog. that's some incisive writing there. i agree with you that some of the best films are those panned by those all-knowing critics like "cinderella man."

but i guess "cinema paradiso" and "shawshank redemption" are exceptions. plus anything by tornatore. i'd like to add your site to my blog links if you don't mind.

thanks and God bless!

5:25 PM  

Post a Comment

<< Home