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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 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 mark g @Mark_Alan_G. Jan 17 Beautifully shot movie with many heartwarming scenes that could leave you torn in the end. We follow the life of a young boy to adulthood, someone destined to be a great filmmaker, at least, one person thinks so. But is that ultimate reward of fame worth more than anything else? Once again, one person thought so and it wasn't our young man. In many ways your opinion of this film could come down to which version of the film you see, there are three lengths. In the end, probably the shortest will be the one most rewarding because it strips away some of the grueling answers given by the longer detailed version. See more Benjamin H Jan 4 A timeless Italian classic, Cinema Paradiso is an emotionally resonant, thematically rich and reflective masterpiece that is masterfully written, directed and acted while feauturing a terrific score from legend Ennio Morricone. The characters are all very well-realized and interesting to follow and the story is just so absorbing. Simply a must-watch for any movie fan. 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

Jacques Perrin and Brigitte Fossey in Giuseppe Tornatore's CINEMA PARADISO. 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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