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Cinema Paradiso

Play trailer Poster for Cinema Paradiso PG 1988 2h 3m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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90% Tomatometer 84 Reviews 96% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
Young Salvatore Di Vita (Salvatore Cascio) discovers the perfect escape from life in his war-torn Sicilian village: the Cinema Paradiso movie house, where projectionist Alfredo (Philippe Noiret) instills in the boy a deep love of films. When Salvatore grows up, falls in love with a beautiful local girl (Agnese Nano) and takes over as the Paradiso's projectionist, Alfredo must convince Salvatore to leave his small town and pursue his passion for filmmaking.
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Cinema Paradiso

Cinema Paradiso

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Critics Consensus

Cinema Paradiso is a life-affirming ode to the power of youth, nostalgia, and the the movies themselves.

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Critics Reviews

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Tim Pulleine Sight & Sound 01/11/2020
Cinema Paradiso itself possesses enough command and self-conviction to demonstrate that movies can still manage to manifest an alternative universe. Go to Full Review Adam Mars-Jones Independent (UK) 12/06/2018
Giuseppe Tornatore, writer and director of Cinema Paradiso, knows that the way to make shameless wallowing palatable is to make no great claims for what you are resurrecting. Go to Full Review Larushka Ivan-Zadeh metro.co.uk 09/06/2017
A cinema-lover's delight. Go to Full Review William Stottor Loud and Clear Reviews 07/11/2024
5/5
One of the greatest Italian films, Cinema Paradiso is a special, timeless classic that will make you smile and weep in equal measure. Go to Full Review David Parkinson Radio Times 07/01/2024
5/5
This is both an unashamedly sentimental rite-of-passage picture and a charming reminder of the lost magic of cinema-going. Go to Full Review Terry Francis Southern Voice (Atlanta) 05/09/2023
3/4
The story is drawn from the director Giuseppe Tornatore's childhood memories, presented here as a series of loosely-linked episodes commemorating the importance of movies -- of art -- in the lives of people forced to manage on very little. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Nikhilesh Sep 24 If you love movies this is a must watch. My gratitude to Regal Cinemas for playing this on the big screen. See more lisa f 07/27/2023 best movie i’ve seen in 20 years! loved it! See more Alcapp 09/02/2022 Cinema Paradiso us a wonderful heart warming film. Youll laugh youll cry youll reflect. The ending is magical. See more Robert K @bkeating Jun 30 Beautiful nostalgic treatment, loved it for 40 years See more Faiz S @RT19049740 May 29 Cinema Paradiso is one of those rare films that becomes more powerful after it ends See more Coni V. @conipsv May 2 Maybe the best movie I’ve ever seen. Its greatest charm is that the movie knows itself. Nostalgia feeds off of there being no resolution. This movie doesn’t try to give you a resolution either. See more Read all reviews
Cinema Paradiso

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Cast & Crew

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Giuseppe Tornatore

Director

Salvatore Cascio

Salvatore 'Toto' Di Vita - Child

Philippe Noiret

Alfredo

Marco Leonardi

Salvatore 'Toto' Di Vita - Teenager

Jacques Perrin

Salvatore 'Toto' Di Vita - Adult

Agnese Nano

Elena Mendola

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Cinema Paradiso

Cinema Paradiso (1988) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Young Salvatore Di Vita (Salvatore Cascio) discovers the perfect escape from life in his war-torn Sicilian village: the Cinema Paradiso movie house, where projectionist Alfredo (Philippe Noiret) instills in the boy a deep love of films. When Salvatore grows up, falls in love with a beautiful local girl (Agnese Nano) and takes over as the Paradiso's projectionist, Alfredo must convince Salvatore to leave his small town and pursue his passion for filmmaking.
Director
Giuseppe Tornatore
Producer
Mino Barbera, Franco Cristaldi, Giovanna Romagnoli
Screenwriter
Giuseppe Tornatore
Distributor
Miramax Films, HBO
Production Co
Cristaldi Film
Rating
PG
Genre
Drama
Original Language
Italian
Release Date (Theaters)
Feb 23, 1988, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Oct 1, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$9.1M
Runtime
2h 3m