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Cinema Paradiso Reviews

1989

80
from 24,693 members

Set in a small Sicilian village, the story depicts three stages in the life of Salvatore, who leaves his village on the advice of his mentor as a boy and returns home many years later as a prominent Roman movie director. He returns to attend the funeral of the town's former film projectionist and in so doing embarks upon a .. Read more

Starring	Philippe Noiret, Jacques Perrin, Agnes Nano, Salvatore Cascio
Director	Giuseppe Tornatore
Genres	Drama, World Cinema

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Critic's review of Cinema Paradiso
View all critics' reviews (3)
- Nostalgic in its celebration of the cinema, beautifully detailed in its enjoyment of the rituals of small-town life with, underneath it all, a toughness in its depiction of a child's growth to maturity.
- 30527
- - Halliwell's Film Guide
  - 02 Mar 2006 at 15:41
Write your own review »
Most helpful member's review of Cinema Paradiso
View all members' reviews (252)
- - 79
  - 3
  My favourite foreign film
  
  This has to be my favourite foreign film of all time, however, that refers to the director's cut rather than the shorter original release.
  
  It was... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 3256
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - a customer
  - Manchester, UK
  - 13 Mar 2004 at 21:16
Most recent members' reviews of Cinema Paradiso
View all members' reviews (252)
- - 0
  - 0
  A perfect evocation of a lost age of cinema
  
  One of my all-time favourites. A perfect evocation of a lost age of cinema and the influence it had on so many lives. This release is much better than the '... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1118157
- - a customer
  - 10 May 2012 at 20:32
- - 0
  - 0
  Beautiful movie
  
  It is a beautiful movie, a real classic. By watching this film everybody will fall in love with the real cinema. Also worth watching the cut scenes for ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1114202
- - rednalas
  - 5 reviews
  - 25 Apr 2012 at 21:25
- - 0
  - 0
  Plenty of lively scenes of the eccentric Italian people sharing their love of cinema
  
  This film was extremly touching
  
  A mans journey through life and the importance of film and cinema that played throughout.
  
  Sneaking into ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1103841
- - lele_poco
  - 43 reviews
  - Croydon
  - 19 Mar 2012 at 00:40
- - 0
  - 0
  A Must for Movie Buffs
  
  I can only endorse the comments of so many others. It is a first-class film for those who enjoy celebrations of life and it's vagaries.
  
  The views... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1056528
- - camero
  - 10 reviews
  - St. Andrews
  - 29 Oct 2011 at 10:19
- - 1
  - 0
  A classic
  
  This film is a classic, well worth a watch.
  
  There are not many films like this anymore.
  
  Great acting from the kid.
  
  Report this review
- 1045384
- - TrixieLoulabelle
  - 10 reviews
  - Sheffield
  - 27 Sep 2011 at 12:26
- - 0
  - 0
  Italian filmaking at it's best
  
  This is a wonderful film, full of live and energy and an honesty that astounds, certainly with the relationship between the boy, the projectionist and the boy&#... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1035128
- - Stageleft
  - 46 reviews
  - Ipswich
  - 30 Aug 2011 at 14:55
- - 0
  - 0
  Tornatore at his best
  
  I rented it to let my daughters watch it as this is one of the best films I have ever seen. They both cried and really loved it. Disappointing that this was the... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1008999
- - gioinharrogate
  - 14 reviews
  - 23 Jun 2011 at 22:51
- - 0
  - 0
  Very Enjoyable
  
  Highly recommended, nice enjoyable film, well made, good for any one to watch. Don't let the thought of a foreign film with subtitles put you off.
  
  Report this review
- 1006077
- - howardrob
  - 2 reviews
  - 17 Jun 2011 at 16:03
- - 0
  - 0
  A film to treasure
  
  This is a wonderful little film to treasure, a brilliant piece of Nostalgic Postmodernism, a think that the West European countries seem to excel at.
  read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1005765
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - Reviewguy94
  - 9 reviews
  - England
  - 16 Jun 2011 at 22:36
- - 0
  - 1
  worth a watch
  
  well worth a watch. packed full of old italian charm. it was great because it was quirky and genuinely funny but i just felt let down that it didn't remain ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 985022
- - tnike
  - 38 reviews
  - Ashton-under-Lyne
  - 22 Apr 2011 at 02:33
View all members' reviews (252)

- - 79
  - 3
  My favourite foreign film
  
  This has to be my favourite foreign film of all time, however, that refers to the director's cut rather than the shorter original release.
  
  It was... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 3256
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - a customer
  - Manchester, UK
  - 13 Mar 2004 at 21:16
- - 25
  - 2
  Lovely
  
  Coming from a fairly accomplished art house and foreign film fan, cinema paradiso popped up quite alot as one to look out for. Not having seen a great deal of ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 188705
- - Tim Harper
  - Somewhere near London, England
  - 31 Dec 2005 at 19:38
- - 21
  - 4
  5 stars not enough
  
  The best film I've seen this year. The tears were running down my cheeks.
  
  I was sent the Director's cut by mistake and I can't be too ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 7144
- - a customer
  - Southend-on-Sea, UK
  - 05 Jun 2004 at 23:05
- - 19
  - 3
  Fave foreign film of all time....
  
  Wow! You must rent this DVD NOW!! I first heard of C.P years back and thought it wouldn't be for me. How wrong I was. I watched the theatrical version first... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 21798
- - Maria Shaw
  - Lincoln UK
  - 14 Oct 2004 at 20:27
- - 14
  - 7
  Transforming Magic of Cinema
  
  Don’t let the subtitles put you off; Tornatore’s nostalgic celebration of friendship, adolescent love and the transforming magic of the cinema has ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 406275
- - Halliwelll
  - 13 reviews
  - Harlow
  - 26 Jan 2007 at 10:24
- - 12
  - 1
  Sweet, real and intelligent
  
  Cinema Paradiso is a sweet, very real and intelligent film. The young actor stole my heart. A most gratifying film experience. This is a film for those who wish... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 299652
- - Albion
  - London
  - 14 Feb 2004 at 01:33
- - 11
  - 1
  Italian masterpiece
  
  Giuseppe Tornatore's Oscar winning autobiographical vision of a young child growing up in a Sicilian village and finding a father figure in Alfredo, the ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 304054
- - RadioRaheim
  - LONDON
  - 27 May 2004 at 01:06
- - 11
  - 2
  Bravo Alfredo!
  
  Really great film, humourous, passionate (about film and Italian village life)with a serious undertone. Wish I'd seen it sooner. If you have the time, ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1282
- - Hutton
  - London
  - 30 Jan 2004 at 09:50
- - 8
  - 1
  Not to be missed!!
  
  Sincere and beautifully observed film about the relationship between a young scamp and the old man projectionist. The film has a feeling of being ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 296525
- - traklaw
  - Strathclyde
  - 16 Dec 2003 at 21:45
- - 8
  - 4
  Stunning
  
  A beautiful film. Not one I'd watch more than once but certainly one which I'll never forget.
  
  A film everybody should rent.
  
  Report this review
- 1275
- - Kate
  - Lancashire, England
  - 29 Jan 2004 at 22:29

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Critics' reviews
- Nostalgic in its celebration of the cinema, beautifully detailed in its enjoyment of the rituals of small-town life with, underneath it all, a toughness in its depiction of a child's growth to maturity.
- 30527
- - Halliwell's Film Guide
  - 02 Mar 2006 at 15:41
- "...CINEMA PARADISO itself possesses enough command and self-conviction to demonstrate that movies can still manage to manifest an alternative universe..."
- 8260
- - Sight and Sound
  - 11 Mar 2005 at 12:58
- "...Movie lovers will lose their hearts to CINEMA PARADISO....Magic, romance and fun..."
- 8259
- - Rolling Stone
  - 11 Mar 2005 at 12:58

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Buy from Amazon.co.uk

- - Buy
- Cinema Paradiso - Blu-ray
  
  A nostalgic look at a young boy's coming-of-age in postwar Italy and his fascination with a small local cinema, CINEMA PARADISO from director Giuseppe Tornatore is a famed and beloved classic.
  
  'Alfredo is dying'... those words jolt the successful filmmaker Salvatore (played as a child by ...

- - Buy
- Cinema Paradiso
  
  Set in a small Sicilian village, the story depicts three stages in the life of Salvatore, who leaves his village on the advice of his mentor as a boy and returns home many years later as a prominent Roman movie director. He returns to attend the funeral of the town's former film projectionist and ...