Directed by:
Giuseppe TornatoreScreenplay:
Giuseppe TornatoreCinematography:
Blasco GiuratoCast:
Philippe Noiret, Enzo Cannavale, Salvatore Cascio, Leo Gullotta, Isa Danieli, Pupella Maggio, Agnese Nano, Tano Cimarosa, Jacques Perrin, Brigitte Fossey (more)VOD (2)
Plots(1)
"Alfredo is dying." Those words jolt the successful filmmaker Salvatore (played as a child by Salvatore Cascio, as a teen by Marco Leonardi, and as an adult by Jacques Perrin), into contemplating his childhood and the hours he spent in the projection booth of his adored local movie theater, Cinema Paradiso. Alfredo (Philippe Noiret), owner of the moviehouse, befriended and encouraged young Salvatore, known as "Toto" as he grew up in his small Sicilian home town, ravaged by the horrors of the war. The cinema offered escape and fantasy to the townspeople, including Toto's mother, a grieving war widow. In one breathtaking scene a popular comedy is projected onto the walls of the town square and the entire town glows in the dreamy light of projected celluloid, washing away the harsh realities of poverty and grief. As Toto grows to manhood, his friendship with his mentor deepens. With the love and guidance of the aging man, Toto navigates the trials of first love and builds on his ever-growing passion for the cinema. Ultimately, it is Alfredo who convinces Toto to leave his village to pursue his dreams of becoming a director. But as Salvatore thinks back on his youthful romances and his innocent love of movies, he comes to realize that perhaps his success has come at a very high price. (official distributor synopsis)
(more)Cast
Philippe Noiret
France
Best movies:
Agence matrimoniale (1952)
Cinema Paradiso (1988)
The Old Gun (1975)
Enzo Cannavale
Italy
Best movies:
Cinema Paradiso (1988)
The Country Boy (1984)
Alfrédo, Alfrédo (1972)
Salvatore Cascio
Italy
Best movies:
Cinema Paradiso (1988)
Everybody's Fine (1990)
Padre Speranza (2002) (TV movie)
Leo Gullotta
Italy
Best movies:
Cinema Paradiso (1988)
The Professor (1986)
The Star Maker (1995)
Isa Danieli
Italy
Best movies:
Teresa la ladra (1972)
Cinema Paradiso (1988)
Love & Anarchy (1973)
Pupella Maggio
Italy
Best movies:
Cinema Paradiso (1988)
Amarcord (1973)
Two Women (1960)
Agnese Nano
Italy
Best movies:
Cinema Paradiso (1988)
The Octopus (1984) (series)
L'Impure (1991) (TV movie)
Tano Cimarosa
Italy
Best movies:
Cinema Paradiso (1988)
A Pure Formality (1994)
The Most Beautiful Wife (1970)
Jacques Perrin
France
Best movies:
Cinema Paradiso (1988)
The Chorus (2004)
State of Siege (1972)
Brigitte Fossey
France
Best movies:
Cinema Paradiso (1988)
Forbidden Games (1952)
The Last Butterfly (1990)
Marco Leonardi
Australia
Best movies:
Cinema Paradiso (1988)
Il capo dei capi (2007) (series)
Palermo Connection (1990)
Nicola Di Pinto
Italy
Best movies:
Cinema Paradiso (1988)
The Legend of 1900 (1998)
The Moro Affair (1986)
Leopoldo Trieste
Italy
Best movies:
The Godfather: A Novel for Television (1977) (series)
The Godfather: Part II (1974)
Cinema Paradiso (1988)
Antonella Attili
Italy
Best movies:
Cinema Paradiso (1988)
Solino (2002)
The Star Maker (1995)
Nino Terzo
Italy
Best movies:
Cinema Paradiso (1988)
Roma (1972)
The Clowns (1970) (TV movie)
Beatrice Palme
Best movies:
Cinema Paradiso (1988)
They Call Me Renegade (1987)
La mia casa è piena di specchi (2010) (TV movie)
Angelo Tosto
Best movies:
Cinema Paradiso (1988)
Detective Montalbano (1999) (series)
Franco Catalano
Best movies:
Cinema Paradiso (1988)
The Octopus (1984) (series)
Malena (2000)
Turi Killer
Best movies:
Cinema Paradiso (1988)
Malena (2000)
The Star Maker (1995)
Angela Leontini
Best movies:
Cinema Paradiso (1988)
Detective Montalbano (1999) (series)