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Cinema Paradiso

Play trailer Poster for Cinema Paradiso PG Released Feb 23, 1988 2h 3m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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91% Tomatometer 86 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 Guardian The skill of Cinema Paradiso happily manages to suggest that such a legacy has not entirely evaporated. At any rate, I find the experience it offers an enchanting one. Jul 26, 2022 Full Review Tim Pulleine Sight & Sound Cinema Paradiso itself possesses enough command and self-conviction to demonstrate that movies can still manage to manifest an alternative universe. Jan 11, 2020 Full Review Adam Mars-Jones Independent (UK) 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. Dec 6, 2018 Full Review William Stottor Loud and Clear Reviews One of the greatest Italian films, Cinema Paradiso is a special, timeless classic that will make you smile and weep in equal measure. Rated: 5/5 Jul 11, 2024 Full Review David Parkinson Radio Times This is both an unashamedly sentimental rite-of-passage picture and a charming reminder of the lost magic of cinema-going. Rated: 5/5 Jul 1, 2024 Full Review Terry Francis Southern Voice (Atlanta) 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. Rated: 3/4 May 9, 2023 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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lisa f best movie i’ve seen in 20 years! loved it! Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 07/27/23 Full Review Alcapp Cinema Paradiso us a wonderful heart warming film. Youll laugh youll cry youll reflect. The ending is magical. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/02/22 Full Review Fer S It starts slow, then gets very interesting for a bit and then super slow for an hour and a half. I wanted it to end already, nothing was happening. I wish I had watched the 2 hour version. Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 05/02/25 Full Review Los G While it is everything you'd expect at a surface level the film plays deep and the memory of it (ironically, appropriately) stays with you Rated 4 out of 5 stars 04/18/25 Full Review Charlie K This movie captures a fictional biography in such an explorative way. From tragedy to love, we see the pitfalls and resolutions that latch to every human experience. Ultimately, love is the final arbiter of a life fulfilled or tattered with regret. My favorite part of this movie is the ruthless dialogue and stern directing (it must be noted that stern does not mean efficient). The characters take their time and respond in a seemingly natural cadence as if the thought was pondered incessantly on the spot. MUST SEE Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/02/25 Full Review Andrea B One of my favourite movies of Giuseppe Tornatore, a must see! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/29/25 Full Review 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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