Análisis, Cinema Paradiso (inglés)

It is difficult to imagine a life without movies when you really love them. Giuseppe Tornatore’s ‘Cinema Paradiso’ embodies the love for movies like non other films can parallel. It is the story of old Alfredo (Philippe Noiret), the projection booth chief, and young Salvatore (Salvatore Cascio), who – to an extent - lives in the projection booth. In the little Sicilian cinema, during the last days before television, a priest went to censor any sort of sexual imagery before showing it to the public. Alfredo and Salvatore’s job is to stop and slice out the images whenever the priest rang his tinkering bell. At first Alfredo tried to scare away the little Salvatore; however as the time goes by he accepts the child’s presence, for it to become a long and loving relationship. Salvatore found not only a home but also a father away from his indifferent and cold house.

The movie is told as a flashback: starting with the death of old Alfredo and moving forth to the director’s youth. Night after night the theater filled with moviegoers that vary in all sorts of personalities; cold hearted critics that rip apart the movies, women escaping from their household, friends and lovers, curious and intellectuals. The ‘Cinema Paradiso’ shows all kind of films that satisfy the public needs, from Europe to Hollywood and from there to Japan (as I said all kinds of films). The boisterous and energetic audiences let my imagination suggest that they were in ecstasies. How much can you love filmmaking? This theme made me think about the movie industry and the gifts that have been and will be left to humanity. Cinema has become part of our lives and will still be very fund for us in the digital years to come. The wide array of films will explore culture and knowledge forever.

The movie becomes predictable once it starts moving forward. The early childhood of Salvatore is what engages me to keep watching – the naive love, the curious innocence – and wondering if I have ever felt that way. The look in someones eye when finding passion is power of the mind the blesses the human race; this power which only a few arts can embody (cinema, poetry, painting, sculpture). The jump cuts only make me believe that I am still watching a movie and not dreaming – to be there, to be little Salvatore. Tornatore expresses his ultimate wish to be able to make the screen bigger than in a theater. He wishes to watch cinema as it ought to be watched: grand, majestic, imposing. Old Alfredo projects the images out the window reflecting Tornatore’s ambitious and audacious chimeras.

In conclusion I believe (duh) that this film is a diary of love. Tornatore’s passion for movie shall be felt in all the hearts of those who love movies. He has created the perfect poster on how a passion is born. As early as the first years of your life you can find what you will do for the rest of your life. Love at first sight exists

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