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Cinema Paradiso

Play trailer Poster for Cinema Paradiso PG 1988 2h 3m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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90% Tomatometer 84 Reviews 96% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
Young Salvatore Di Vita (Salvatore Cascio) discovers the perfect escape from life in his war-torn Sicilian village: the Cinema Paradiso movie house, where projectionist Alfredo (Philippe Noiret) instills in the boy a deep love of films. When Salvatore grows up, falls in love with a beautiful local girl (Agnese Nano) and takes over as the Paradiso's projectionist, Alfredo must convince Salvatore to leave his small town and pursue his passion for filmmaking.

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Cinema Paradiso

Cinema Paradiso

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Critics Consensus

Cinema Paradiso is a life-affirming ode to the power of youth, nostalgia, and the the movies themselves.

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Critics Reviews

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Tim Pulleine Sight & Sound 01/11/2020
Cinema Paradiso itself possesses enough command and self-conviction to demonstrate that movies can still manage to manifest an alternative universe. Go to Full Review Adam Mars-Jones Independent (UK) 12/06/2018
Giuseppe Tornatore, writer and director of Cinema Paradiso, knows that the way to make shameless wallowing palatable is to make no great claims for what you are resurrecting. Go to Full Review Larushka Ivan-Zadeh metro.co.uk 09/06/2017
A cinema-lover's delight. Go to Full Review William Stottor Loud and Clear Reviews 07/11/2024
5/5
One of the greatest Italian films, Cinema Paradiso is a special, timeless classic that will make you smile and weep in equal measure. Go to Full Review David Parkinson Radio Times 07/01/2024
5/5
This is both an unashamedly sentimental rite-of-passage picture and a charming reminder of the lost magic of cinema-going. Go to Full Review Terry Francis Southern Voice (Atlanta) 05/09/2023
3/4
The story is drawn from the director Giuseppe Tornatore's childhood memories, presented here as a series of loosely-linked episodes commemorating the importance of movies -- of art -- in the lives of people forced to manage on very little. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Nikhilesh Sep 24 If you love movies this is a must watch. My gratitude to Regal Cinemas for playing this on the big screen. See more lisa f 07/27/2023 best movie i’ve seen in 20 years! loved it! See more Alcapp 09/02/2022 Cinema Paradiso us a wonderful heart warming film. Youll laugh youll cry youll reflect. The ending is magical. See more Ilias B @RT68994946 Apr 4 For me is between 5 best movies of all time, cinema at his best! It touched me so deeply, i lived in a village in the province until the age of 11 then i moved to the big city and i identified with many moments of the film. My uncle owned a warehouse in the village where a mobile cinema used to play films some times and i have so sweet memories! See more Arianna B @Aryhann79 Apr 4 A masterpiece. From the acting, to the scenography to, of course, the soundtrack. A great depiction of sicilian after war life in a small village, where ignorance, light mafia, passion are all mixed together to bring up a small kid into becoming "someone". There are some very vibrant moments in the movie, immersed in a small cascade of laughter. At the very end, it is somehow what love is in a movie that is projected in everyone's heart, but, in the short version of the movie there is not the full dimension of how this can be, also disappointing. Fantastic to watch with the whole family. Deep to understand people root and also how a lot of south italian moved north in the 60s, to find fortune and leave misery and more behind. I thought the last 10 minutes of the movie were a bit out of place, in terms of acting, with the characters aged. Not the same class as the rest of the movie. Still important for the story development though. A must! See more Tom T @BTerry73 Jan 17 Absolutely love this movie!!! I am 73 and have watched a lot of movies in my life and this is one of those that more times I watch, the more I love it. Also, fact I do love movies is a big reason love this movie. The story and the cast is fantastic. It truly is a must see movie for anyone who loves movies or movie theaters. See more Read all reviews
Cinema Paradiso

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Cast & Crew

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Giuseppe Tornatore

Director

Salvatore Cascio

Salvatore 'Toto' Di Vita - Child

Philippe Noiret

Alfredo

Marco Leonardi

Salvatore 'Toto' Di Vita - Teenager

Jacques Perrin

Salvatore 'Toto' Di Vita - Adult

Agnese Nano

Elena Mendola

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Cinema Paradiso

Cinema Paradiso (1988) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Young Salvatore Di Vita (Salvatore Cascio) discovers the perfect escape from life in his war-torn Sicilian village: the Cinema Paradiso movie house, where projectionist Alfredo (Philippe Noiret) instills in the boy a deep love of films. When Salvatore grows up, falls in love with a beautiful local girl (Agnese Nano) and takes over as the Paradiso's projectionist, Alfredo must convince Salvatore to leave his small town and pursue his passion for filmmaking.
Director
Giuseppe Tornatore
Producer
Mino Barbera, Franco Cristaldi, Giovanna Romagnoli
Screenwriter
Giuseppe Tornatore
Distributor
Miramax Films, HBO
Production Co
Cristaldi Film
Rating
PG
Genre
Drama
Original Language
Italian
Release Date (Theaters)
Feb 23, 1988, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Oct 1, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$9.1M
Runtime
2h 3m
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