Cinema Paradiso

Movie: Cinema Paradiso, 1988; 155 min

Director: Giuseppe Tornatore

Actors: Philippe Noiret, Enzo Cannavale, Antonella Attili

Summary: A successful filmmaker, Salvatore Di Vita, recalls his childhood living in a small Italian town and falling in love with movies at the local theater. The death of his good friend, the theater’s projectionist, brings back his memories.

Question 1: Describe the first movie showing at the local theater. What purpose does the director seem to have in this scene and how does he achieve it?

            The first scene of a movie showing at the local theater is one of many throughout the entire film. This scene, however, is significant because it helps captivate the audience and brings them into the theater with its patrons. The director’s objective with this scene seems to be to bring the audience into the theater and make them feel like they are actually there feeling the magic of the movies that the patrons feel. The multiple panning shots of the audience and close-ups on different patrons, and especially Toto, give the film’s audience a feeling of actually being there because they can see everyone else’s reactions to what is being shown on the movie screen. The theater audience also interacts with the movies shown on screen by making Indian noises at the John Wayne cowboy trailer, laughing together at Charlie Chaplin, and complaining when the movie cuts right before a kissing scene. Even though the theater environment differs greatly from that of present day movie theaters, the film’s audience can actually feel like they are there right when the movies were becoming popular.

Question 2: How does the director transition Toto from a child to a teenager? What is significant about this scene?

            After the theater fire, Alfredo becomes blind and can no longer work the movie projector. The only other person who knows how is Toto, who takes on the job at a very young age. Toto’s transition occurs when Antonio places his hand over Toto’s face as he talks about how important sight is to a person. When Antonio takes his hand off Toto’s face, the boy is now a teenager still working in the projection booth. This transition shows that the strong relationship between Toto and Antonio and Toto’s job and passion for movies still has not changed after all these years. The transition can also serve as a metaphor that life and childhood moves by quickly.