I watched this movie about two years ago, but seeing the movie name listed here on MouthShut brought back all the heartrending emotions that came with the movie itself. The very fact that I still remember the movie so well, speaks volumes of the quality of the work. I can still remember every scene at which I cried.
What I just said probably is misleading. The movie is NOT a sappy sob story or even a tragedy. What made it a tear jerker for me was how real each facet of the movie was. The director, Giuseppe Tornatore, has made a masterpiece, which every person MUST see.
Enough of my gushing, and on with the story. This is an Italian movie about a guy, Salvatore (Jacques Perrin), an acclaimed director, who goes back to his small town on receiving news of the death of an old friend. Most of the movie is in flashback. As a little boy Salvatore loved the movies and the local town cinema, the ’Cinema Paradiso’, was where he developed his movie interests. He also found his mentor in the projectionist of the theatre, Alfredo (Philippe Noiret). Tragedy strikes one day and the cinema is burned down in which Alfredo turns blind. A new cinema hall is erected at the same place in which a grown up(adolescent) Salvatore becomes the projectionist. The other part of the story is pretty cliched. He falls in love with a girl who does not reciprocate his affections, he doesn’t give up, she relents, she vanishes forever from his live.
However, in this movie, it’s not the story that’s important. It’s the play of emotions that completely mesmerizes you. It’s the realness of the character and the various happenstances & mishaps that confront Salvatore growing up. The central theme, in my opinion, is memories. And that’s why the movie connects so thoroughly with it’s viewers. Childhood, it’s innocence, growing up, braving the real world; it’s all in there.
Me and the movie
The movie affected me probably more than it should’ve. Here’s why. I’m a student in a foreign land, and I haven’t visited home, India, in over two years. I can very easily relate to the child Salvatore who plays with his friends, is involved in some caper or the other, and his utter fascination at the workings of the world. I miss that wonderment and I miss home. ’’Mujhko lauta do bachpan ka sawan, woh kagaz ki kashti, woh barish ka paani’’. Anytime I think of the Jagjit/Chitra Singh song I get all misty eyed. And revisiting childhood and your growing up was exactly what this movie is about.
Even if you’re not in a situation like mine, the movie will touch you and leave a mark. If you’re a movie lover you cannot miss this masterpiece of a movie. Be aware that it might make you cry, so don’t sit and watch it with your family, like I’ve recommended, if you don’t want them to see through your brave exterior! :-)