Part of Weekend Classics: At The Movies.
Giuseppe Tornatore’s loving homage to the cinema tells the story of successful film director Salvatore’s return home — for the funeral of Alfredo, an old friend who was the projectionist at the local cinema throughout his childhood. Soon memories of his first love affair with the beautiful Elena — and all the highs and lows that shaped his life — come flooding back as Salvatore reconnects with the place he left 30 years earlier.
Winner of the 1990 Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film and featuring a memorable score by the late, great Ennio Morricone — CINEMA PARADISO remains an irresistible, romantic celebration of the movies and is widely regarded as one of the best foreign language films ever to grace American screens.
“There is no movie that more deeply speaks to that almost spiritual journey any aspiring filmmaker makes from intern to master than Giuseppe Tornatore’s 1988 Academy Award-winning love song to the movies, CINEMA PARADISO.” —John Bailey, American Cinematographer Magazine “It's no accident that CINEMA PARADISO's nostalgic celebration of the power of great film-making, and of cinema as a communal experience, so captured audiences' imagination.” —Laura Barnett, The Guardian “CINEMA PARADISO wraps you in a tender embrace and refuses to let go.” —Ian Nathan, Empire “...Possesses enough command and self-conviction to demonstrate that movies can still manage to manifest an alternative universe.” —Tim Pulleine, Sight & Sound “CINEMA PARADISO is about the power of dreams…. The film reminds us that we can, and must, keep on dreaming." —Salvatore Cascio (2013 interview with Laura Barnett for The Guardian)
