Cinema Paradiso

September 2010

Having to see "Cinema Paradiso" is much like rekindling an old flame-- mostly a reminiscence of our pristine bygones when we used to gaze at even the most meretricious things as if they were all glistening gems. This motion picture captures the heart of its audience, more than ever to the avid aficionados of film. "Cinema Paradiso" reveals about a man's affinity with movies as his only  joie de vivre, his beloved.

The movie is unfolded with flashbacks that channel the viewers back to the years of the near end of World War 2 in Sicily, Italy. In the pastoral town of Giancaldo lies a small, old theater called Cinema Paradiso which became a red herring or respite during the war time. The protagonist of the story, Salvatore Di Vitto or "Toto", was ravished by the enchantment of movies and the mystery of how debauched a simple kiss would be.

At a young age, Toto went to the theater time and again like it was a magnetic force that pulls him in this magical vortex of silver screens. He still persisted to go to the movie house even after he was proscribed by his mother when she found out that he had spent their milk money to catch a show. He once tried to get a sneak peek of lip locking footage when the movies were being screened by the order of Father Adelfio. The decadent scenes were usually snipped out of the film by Alfredo, the projectionist.

Night by night, Toto would be astonished with eyes that sparkled with fascination as he submissively marveled how Alfredo operates the machine. The boy seemed to deem of Alfredo as his father since his real one had vanished into the throes of war. All through the years that the two had spent in their dearly loved home away from home, Alfredo bestowed his hard-earned knowledge and paternal guidance to what he already regarded as his son.

The theater was more often than not packed with eager customers, some were regular movie goers. There was not any etiquette to comply in that time of cinematic experience. Anything can be done in the murkiness of the cinema. There were smoking of cigarettes and drinking of vino, spitting each time a show ended, stomping of feet, breastfeeding of babies, jerking off in one whole row, and carnal romancing as slightly prurient footage could give explosive titillation to the wanton-deprived, hot-blooded citizens.

The flick strikes a chord with butterflies that we get when we experience first love--simple, majestic, feels like on top of the world kind. It also awakens the memory of the first aching heartbreak and that the past will keep haunting like apprized remorse.  

Giuseppe Tornatore educes the effervescence of the people as the film celebrates the luster that youth and classic age brings, and how love was found and lost. The exquisite montage of kissing scenes that were edited out from the movie screening had been bequeathed to the grown up Salvatore by Alfredo. The montage conists of absolutely the most delightful collection of kisses over the years. The simple but grandiose moments of the film can soften even the hardest heart as it lay bare how elusive life and love can be. "Cinema Paradiso" is like an old vino that is bitter when tasted at first, but gets sweeter as it sinks into you.