Cinema Paradiso
1988 · Movie · PG · 124 min · ★ 8.4 · 85% critics
An acclaimed filmmaker looks back on growing up in a small village, where a local movie theater becomes his refuge and inspiration. As he learns the magic behind the screen, a close bond with the projectionist shapes his love of cinema, friendship, and the bittersweet pull of memory.
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Details
- Original title
- Nuovo Cinema Paradiso
- Years
- 1988
- Release date
- 1988-11-17
- Language
- Italian
- Rated
- PG
- Runtime
- 124 min
- Critic score
- 85/100
- TMDB rating
- 8.4/10 (4,836 votes)
- Box office
- $13,019,063
- Budget
- $5,000,000
About
You’ll likely enjoy this if you want a warm, emotional coming-of-age story about memory, community, and a lifelong love of movies, in the spirit of Forrest Gump; Not for you if you dislike slow, nostalgic dramas.
Pros: heartfelt nostalgia; moving friendship; love letter to cinema | Cons: slow for some; uneven love-story focus; different cuts vary
Themes
- parent child relationship
- sicily, italy
- movie business
- kiss
- coming of age
- flashback
- magic realism
- nostalgic
- haunted by the past
- censorship
- nuovo cinema paradiso
- movie theater
Awards & recognition
- Academy Award — Best International Feature Film · 1990
- Silver nugget — the best foreign film · 1990
- Cannes Film Festival Grand Prix · 1989
- European Film Academy Special Jury Award · 1989
- European Film Award — Best Actor · 1989
Show all 10 awards →
- Academy Award — Best International Feature Film · 1990 · nominated
- International Submission to the Academy Awards · 1990 · nominated
- European Film Award — Best Actor · 1989 · nominated
- Young European Film of the Year · 1989 · nominated
- David di Donatello — Best Director · nominated
Cast & crew
Philippe Noiret
as Alfredo
Jacques Perrin
as Salvatore 'Totò' Di Vita (adult)
Marco Leonardi
as Salvatore 'Totò' Di Vita (teen)
Salvatore Cascio
as Salvatore 'Totò' Di Vita (child)
Agnese Nano
as Elena Mendola (teen) / Elena's daughter (in Director's cut)
Antonella Attili
as Maria Di Vita (young)
Pupella Maggio
as Maria Di Vita (aged)
Enzo Cannavale
as Spaccafico
Isa Danieli
as Anna
Leo Gullotta
as Ignazio, usher
Directed by Giuseppe Tornatore