Il Postino cover art

Il Postino Details

1995 Certificate U
  • Rated:
  • 70
  • from 9996 members

A young postman's world is brightened as he begins delivering letters to poet Pablo Neruda, exiled on an island off the coast of Italy. At first hoping friendship with the poet will improve his reputation with a local barmaid, he ultimately develops a genuine, touching relationship with the laureate. This was the late Massimo .. Read more

Starring Philippe Noiret, Massimo Troisi, Maria Grazia Cucinotta, Anna Bonaiuto
Director Michael Radford
Genres Drama, Romance, World Cinema

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Il Postino

A young postman's world is brightened as he begins delivering letters to poet Pablo Neruda, exiled on an island off the coast of Italy. At first hoping friendship with the poet will improve his reputation with a local barmaid, he ultimately develops a genuine, touching relationship with the laureate. This was the late Massimo Troisi's final film appearance. Academy Award Nominations: 5, including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor--Massimo Troisi. Academy Awards: Best Original Dramatic Score.

Starring Philippe Noiret, Massimo Troisi, Maria Grazia Cucinotta, Anna Bonaiuto, Renato Scarpa, Carlo Di Maio, Vincenzo Di Sauro, Linda Moretti, Nando Neri, Mariano Rigillo, Sergio Solli, Orazio Stracuzzi
Director Michael Radford
Studio WALT DISNEY STUDIOS HOME ENTERTAINMENT
Run time DVD: 1 hr 45 mins
Certificate Certificate U
Genres Drama, Romance, World Cinema
Language DVD: Italian
Hearing-impaired English
Subtitles DVD: English
Released DVD: 07 Jan 2002
Production year: 1995
Format DVD
  • Critics' reviews (6) of Il Postino

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  • 5 stars out of 5

    In this romantic drama, Massimo Troisi stars as a shy postman on an Italian island whose only port of call is the residence of legendary exiled Chilean poet Pablo Neruda (Philippe Noiret). Too timid to talk to the local beauty (Maria Grazia Cucinotta), the postman turns to his new-found friend for poetic assistance to win her heart. Wonderful contrasting performances from the two stars, beautiful scenery and understated direction from British film-maker Michael Radford give this delightfully different international gem the radiance of a Mediterranean Local Hero. In a tragic footnote, Troisi died the day after completing this life-affirming movie.

    • Radio Times
  • 2 stars out of 4

    A gentle comedy that gains a great deal from Troisi's contained performance, which illumines the sometimes clumsy narrative, so that it becomes genuinely moving despite its obvious manipulation.

    • Halliwell's Film Guide
  • Most helpful member's review of Il Postino

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  • 12 out of 12 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    a postman calls

    This is a quaint film which is set in a beautiful rural fishing village. The postman of the title is a shy innocent who has fallen for the local village beauty. Inspired by exiled poet pablo neruda the postman endeavours to woo the object of his affecitons through words. The dialouge of the film is simple and affecting - the relationship between the poet and postman is touching and the background of social unrest and political turmoil remind us that innocence is fragile. However the film never explores the characters or issues in depth - and remains a scenic pleasure.

      • Mike McKenna from london
  • Most recent members' review of Il Postino

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  • 7 out of 7 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    Heart-warming

    Massimo Troisi is irresistible as the postman who delivers letters to the exiled Chilean poet Pablo Neruda in a small but beautiful island in Italy. He is so natural and charming in his role that you forget he is acting.

    His hesitation, his stuttering, his quiet and simple demeanour, all merge to create a character who is totally believable and utterly lovable.

    The entire cast do a great job, but it is Troisi who steals the show. What makes the film even more poignant is that Troisi died only two days after filming ended due to heart failure.

    The memory of his greatness as an actor will live on in this heart-warming masterpiece of friendship and poetic reverence.

      • Carlotta from UK
  • News and features

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    Spanish Civil War, The - The Story Of A Country At War

    Radford halts shooting on La Mula

    • 04 Nov 2009

    Filmmaker Michael Radford has been forced to suspend shooting on upcoming movie La Mula a week before it was due to wrap over financial fears. The Il Postino director announced to his cast and crew he had no choice but to halt the comedy, about the Spanish Civil War, on Saturday (31Oct09). He cited a lack of funding from producers for the decision, reports Daily Variety. A number of organisations have invested in the £6.6 million project, including the U.K. Film Council and the Irish Film Read more

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Rating breakdown

9,996 Member ratings
  • 100
1,706
  • 90
1,214
  • 80
2,372
  • 70
1,606
  • 60
1,212
  • 50
646
  • 40
424
  • 30
277
  • 20
334
  • 10
205

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    • A young postman's world is brightened as he begins delivering letters to poet Pablo Neruda, exiled on an island off the coast of Italy. At first hoping friendship with the poet will improve his ...