Cinema Paradiso

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Cinema Paradiso

PG

Released Feb 23, 1988

2h 3m

Drama

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Popcornmeter

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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Critics Consensus

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Andrea B

One of my favourite movies of Giuseppe Tornatore, a must see!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/29/25

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Will G

One of my favorite movies! It’s an Italian movie about a boy who is friends with a projectionist. The he grows up and falls in love. The music was made by Ennio Morricone. There are scenes of old films in this movie.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/31/25

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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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81%

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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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