This is an amazing film, which have seen many times over the years. It was originally introduced to me in my senior year of high school. It was supposed to be an easy year for me. After taking eight classes, every semester for the previous three years, I finally decided to schedule in lunch, and a study hall. I took classes because they were interesting, if not difficult, like "Ecology" and "Writing Through Film". The latter class was the one, which introduced the movie to me.

The class was so easy. All we did was watch movies, and once in a while we wrote papers on them. Wow, what a class! Best of all, no matter how much I thought I would hate each and every film, I ended up loving most of them.

This was one of those films. All of us groaned when we learned it was in Italian and had subtitles. "Great," I thought, "not only will I have to watch a movie that will make me think, but I will also have to remember to bring my glasses to school." Not that I was becoming a big slacker, but hey, this was a big deal to a teenager.

So there we were watching a movie where we had to read the dialogue to understand what was happening. An old man first appeared to us. "Wonderful, not only is it in Italian, with subtitles, but it's about an old guy! What do I know about old guys?" I really wondered what my teacher was thinking.

Eventually, the preconceived notions I held slipped away, and I became wrapped up in the story. The old man from the beginning was a famous filmmaker, who was looking back at his life. The man, Salvatore, or Toto, as he was called, recalls his childhood, and his visits to the Cinema Paradisio.

Toto is obsessed with movies, and cannot get enough of them. A young boy, he is not allowed to watch many of the movies that are shown. Toto sneaks in and watches the movies anyway. He begins to become friends with Alfredo, the projectionist.

After a tragedy, Alfredo and Toto's friendship strengthens, and Toto takes over the role of projectionist. His dream of playing movies, to the delight of others, has come true. Alfredo has also become a father-figure to him.

Before long, however, Toto comes of age. He no longer relies on Alfredo as he once did, and he sets out on his quest for love and success. He finds both, by falling in love with a woman and becoming a successful film-maker.

I don't want to give everything away, but in the end, he is left to reflect back on the life he has lived so far. His life has been both happy and sad, but through it all, the cinema has been the constant theme, which pulls it all together.

The ending is somewhat nostalgic, and maybe even cliche, but still powerful. I think the nostalgia and the fact that this is a coming of age and a facing mortality movie, it is something which everyone can relate to, regardless of age or the language they speak.

Important Note

There is some nudity in this film, so my statement that this film is one for everyone might not be true, especially in this society. Watch this movie first before deciding if your children are old enough to watch this movie or not. In my humble opinion, an early teen would be old enough to see this movie, but your family values maybe different.

Also of Importance

For those of you who do not like subtitles, there is a dubbed version. Personally, I would rather read the words from the subtitles than have the words and mouths be out of sync, but I guess that is your decision as well.


Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Good for a Rainy Day
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older