Cinema Paradiso

 It is one of those movies which can give you nostalgia about something that you have never experienced.

Without beating about the bush, here’s a summary of Cinema Paradiso – it’s a parallel bildungsroman of both a kid and cinema. The changing films shown on screen subtly indicate the timeline. As years pass, the theatre showcases John Wayne’s works, In the Name of the Law, Catene, Le Ragazze Di San Frediano and finally, to indicate the shift to the colour film era – Ulysses.

The plot traces the tale of Salvatore De Vita (played by Salvatore Cascio), a six year old boy, nicknamed as Toto who lives with his mother and sister in the town of Giancaldo. One of the main focus of the story is the evolution of his relationship with the film projectionist, Alfredo (Phillip Noiret). From being an annoying pest, Toto grows close to Alfredo, sealing their friendship with a wink at a certain point. Naturally, Toto is curious about operating the projector and eventually learns to operate it with ease. The film goes on to show the unfolding of events in Toto’s life, which is heavily linked to that of the theatre – Cinema Paradiso.

One nice thread in the film is the portrayal of cinema as a community event rather than just an entertainment medium. Cinema Paradiso is the sole movie hall in Giancaldo, and as a result, receives regular visitors. A budding romance between two of these visitors turns into a marriage and grows into a family – all of which is hinted at rather than spoon feeding us about it.

In a rather hilarious sequence, the local priest watches the movies before they are shown to the public and orders Alfredo to cut out the kissing scenes from the film roll – an early form of censorship. So much so that the audience are overjoyed when they see the first kiss on screen after a decade.  Another one that elicited laughs was when Toto went to school. His sheer desperation when his friend gets the wrong answer despite multiple attempts to help him was a treat to watch.

While all the actors did a good job, it was the chemistry between Philippe Noiret and Salvatore Cascio that stole the show. They managed to create a beautiful mix of a father-son relationship and a friendship. Once Toto grew up into a teenager (played by Marco Leonardi), I missed Cascio’s presence. 

Watch the movie to get a slice of Sicilian life through the peephole of cinema – rather like how Alfredo watched the films from behind the projection booth.

By Ananya Natarajan