Monday, June 19, 2006

Cinema Paradiso



Hey Buj.. this one's for you since you haven't seen 'Cinema Paradiso'...

If you love movies, it's impossible not to watch and appreciate Cinema Paradiso... It's the story to young boy Salvadore nicknamed Toto... and his love affair with the movies.. and the story of a very special friendship between toto and Alfredo...the projectionist.
If you're ever down.. Cinema Paradiso is just the right movie to brighten up a gloomy day and bring a smile to just about anyone. it's almost magical...

Most of Cinema Paradiso is told through flashbacks. The film opens with Salvatore, a famous director, who has just received the news that an old friend has died. Before departing for his home village(Giancaldo) to attend the funeral, he remembers...his childhood, his adolescence, the places and people he hasn't seen for decades.

Toto loved the movies. He would use the milk money(intended for his younger sister) to go watch the matinee at the local theater, a small place called the Cinema Paradiso screening films starring big actors such as John Wayne, and Charlie Chaplin. His experiences in the theater, watching movies and listening to Alfredo's stories, form a kind of journey of discovery. As Salvatore cultivates his love of movies, you yourself will start questioning the meaning of film to you, especially if you're into this genre of film.

As Salvadore get to his teens, Cinema Paradiso shifts from being a nostalgic celebration of movies to a traditional coming-of-age drama, complete with romantic disappointment and elation. Salvatore falls for a girl named Elena... now depending on which version you see... the original or the Director's Cut... the love story differs.. I saw the both ten years ago and thought the original cut was better... I watched the director's cut recently and vowed that it is the ultimate best... regardless.. the film is perfect...
one other detail...
'The Screen Kiss'
Yes.. they had censorship as well...Early in the film, you'd see the local priest previewing each movie before it gets screened to the public, demanding that all scenes of kissing be edited out. Toto would sneak in and watch the priest ring his tiny bell away, his queue to Alfredo to censor that specific part..
I don't want to ruin in by saying too much... but keep in mind the deal that toto makes with Alfredo... by the end of the movie... it's the sweetest most satisfying ending that anyone could wish for..
Very touching...
Not a lot of people realize what the ending really means.. when u see it maybe then we can talk about it... gotta leave some room for you to enjoy...
and since you're into music... you'll love it even more... here's a sample
simply perfect in every way..

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

hey ! well I think since you are from AD the reason why we have pests is cleaR!

BuJ said...

thnx for that cosmic..before i read it.. does it give the plot away? i should really watch paradiso... then i should read this post.. sho rayech?

lol i think u got your facts wrong ya zinekh

Cosmic girl said...

oh wow..
I guess we really have an 'idiotic pest' on our hands.. or maybe just plain stupid..
hey pest... Does the Blog name suggest I'm from AD??
let me re-iterate//
DUBAIen Chic...
but then again... why am I wasting my time and giving you this attention... BUGGER!!

Cosmic girl said...

Hey Buj..
I made sure not to give the story away...I was careful... enjoy!!

BuJ said...

thanks! u also did a pop-up comment box.. how cool !!

BuJ said...

thanks very much cosmic.. just read it carefully.. sounds very nice.. i wanna watch it now!!

do u notice how a lot of the italian movies start with a death/funeral scene?

Toto! typically southern italian name..

thanks for sharing this with us :)

Cosmic girl said...

hmmm.. now i need to go back and look at the italian films I've seen and check what you said!!
Although in Cinema Paradiso, it may have started with the death, but you won't see the funeral until the end of the film in the original cut and almost half way through the film if you see the director's cut...
this movie also won the oscar for best foreign film and got quite a few Bafta awards as well..
enjoy it...

dhaheri said...

Italian cinema....girl this part of world is crazy....
Stay with Hollywood /bollywood & dubaiwood its better =S

p.s. The forbidden love of all directors is the Italian cinema (swimming pool is nothing to them & London =P)

Cosmic girl said...

Dhaheri..
Thanks for the tip.. I think I still prefer the idies than the regular hollywood...
foreign is great!!
never really liked bollywood(if you've seen one you've seen them all).. maybe indian indies... and as for Dubaiwood.. let's not go there YET... two films out.. two huge disasters... monte cristo and his dream (hint hint).. how embarassing!!

dhaheri said...

no comment there...lets wait & see the new MOOO's pic...called "7aneen" =S
I am not going to spend that 30 dhm on it

Cosmic girl said...

oh hush hush... you'll give away our identities... you big 'parrot'!!

black feline said...

saw it ten times...btw the movie is loosely based on my story...just kidding..lol
LOVE IT!

Cosmic girl said...

hey black feline.. I could've sworn it was my story too...
the next time we see it together!!

black feline said...

btw..do u know the young boy actor actually won Best Supporting Actor..1990 British Academy Awards..Salvatore Cascio...Wow!

Cosmic girl said...

yeah I did.. he was great... well deserved!!