Cinema Paradiso (1988) - International cinema at it's finest

Some of the best films out there are those that don’t require the use of words to deliver it’s narrative or make an audience feel something. And that is exactly what was accomplished in the 1988 Italian classic, Cinema Paradiso.

Now, those who have seen it already know that the characters do speak, but as there is only the original Italian dialogue and translations via subtitles, it can be an interesting experience to let the film talk to international audience members just through it’s visual storytelling. If you can, try watching the film without any subtitles on, and see what reaction it provokes. I found Cinema Paradiso easy to pick up on without the need to constantly read the English subtitles. This demonstrates a worldwide appeal that with or without the translated subtitles, this film can still be perfectly understandable and can still make it’s audience feel something.

The outline of this film is very similar to what Damien Chazelle would go on to create with 2016’s La La Land, in regards to a heart-warming tribute to the art of film-making, and the countless memories and emotions it can prevoke. Those who weren’t keen on the highly saturated view of Hollywood seen in Chazelle’s modern tribute will more than likely find writer and director, Giuseppe Tornatore’s more subtle and simplistic tribute to international cinema, focusing more on how films can connect communities across the world, and bring people together in a way that other aspects of life such as music, art and books couldn’t achieve. Thanks to discovering his love for film and his local cinema, Toto (Salvatore Cacio) finds a lifelong friend in Alfredo, (Philippe Noiret) finds his first love, and gains the drive to head out into the big world, not looking back as he lets his passion drive his life forward.

Tornatore isn’t only revisiting the nostalgic past on communal gatherings at cinemas, the setting of this community theatre is merely a backdrop to the many story threads that all link to this central location. Coming of age and self discovery are primary factors in young Toto’s development from being a typical naughty child character, to a passionate and hard working young man. It’s also not afraid to blend it’s heart warming and comical approach to cinematic nostalgia, with moments of hard hitting reminders of reality. The fire that takes place half way through the film is not only heart pounding as Alfredo lies unconscious, but also a heart breaking moment, as we see the source of our lead characters happiness get ripped away during a moment of communal gathering and joyous appreciation for an art form our characters love so dear.

It can also be very reflective of how the attitudes to cinemas have changed. While still very popular, cinemas are not the communal experience we see happening in this film. It’s evolved to where we treat cinema trips more like a trip to a theatre show, rather than a social gathering, often being soaked into the worlds being shown to us by film-makers of today. And the ending scenes of Toto as an adult returning home to watch the remains of this cinema get raised to the ground is horrifying to essentially see the tether to Toto’s childhood get brutally ripped away, without tarnishing the memories that we’ve seen Toto relive.

Blasco Giurato’s beautiful cinematography takes us truly into Toto’s view of life, film and the cinema that has such a profound impact on him as a character. Night shots are dripping with atmosphere and emotion, and the stark contrast between the original church ran cinema that Toto first discovers, with the rebuilt one which looks and feels more like it’s part of a cinema chain, while still creating the communal environment, albeit on a more raunchy scale.

If you’re someone who isn’t sure about international releases that don’t have English dubs, please consider Cinema Paradiso as a superb place to start. Regardless of whether you follow the story through subtitles or through visual storytelling, this international masterpiece demonstrates how beautiful independent and international cinema can be, when not restrained by Hollywood’s westernised money making machine. While Hollywood can still pump out some very glossy productions, sometimes you just need a simple and heart warming tale about growing up and communal nostalgia.

SCORES

Story - 5/5

Characters - 5/5

Production - 5/5

Acting - 5/5

Music - 5/5

Overall - 10/10