Point College

Title: Cinema Paradiso

Assignment No.: 5

Date: 23/03/2015

Name: Lee Sweet Wan

Course: Introduction to World Cinema

Cinema Paradiso (1988)

Cinema Paradiso is a 1988 Italian drama film which directed and written by Giuseppe Tornatore. The story begins with two women is trying to call and reach a guy named Salvatore Di Vita to inform him Alfredo’s death. Salvatore Di Vita is the protagonist and he has a nickname called Toto. After he learn Alfredo’s dead he then flashback to the scene when he was still a kid who living in Giancaldo. He is a young little guy who lives his life with his mother and younger sister while his father was dead in a War. He usually stays with the priest to work. Besides, he has his passion in film so he often go to the only entertainment place in the town which is Cinema Paradiso. This is where he meets and grows his relationship to become a friend with the projectionist who named Alfredo.

Alfredo often lets Toto watch the film through projector. Unfortunately, his mother stops him from involve in anything that related to film after she discovered he spends all his time at the cinema. In addition, the incident that the film he bought back home nearly killed his younger sister is also a reason why his mother do not support him. Therefore, Alfredo forced to make a promise with Toto’s mother that he will not allow Toto enter the cinema again. As Toto really has the passion in film so he didn’t obey his mother’s word and still going to the cinema. Unfortunately, Alfredo don’t allow him to enter the place that he works.

Later, Alfredo have to sit in an exam that same as Toto and he asked for the answer from Toto so they make a deal. Toto gives the answer to Alfredo and he has teach Toto how to project a film. One day, the film gets burn and so do the cinema. Alfredo is inside when the

incident happens. Toto success to rescue him out from the fire but Alfredo’s eyes get burn by the fire which make him permanent blind. After that, a rich guy from the town build a new cinema and hire Toto to be the projectionist as he is the only one in the town who knows how to project a film. He works with Alfredo in the projection room. Few years later, Toto is now a young man. He get into college life. He then meet and fall in love with a girl named Elena who father is a banker. He films her down and project it into the screen and tell Alfredo his story of being fall in love with a girl but Alfredo doesn’t show Toto his support. He confess to Elena and she rejected him at the first time. After some time of waiting, Elena loves him in return. They been through a romantic times together. Unfortunately, Elena’s father doesn’t allow them to be together so he takes Elena away. Toto who loses his love then went in the army. After he returns to his hometown, everything changed. He then listened to Alfredo who ask him to leave the town behind and never go back to chase after his dream.

At the end, he returns to his hometown for the funeral of Alfredo. He meet all his old friends and greet with them. Then he has a long talk with his mother and also Alfredo’s wife. As he returns, he discovered the truth that he doesn’t know before. It seems like Alfredo set a path for him to full fill his dream. He sacrificed his love indeed. Lastly, Toto went back to Rome with a can of film that Alfredo left for him. It considered as a memories instead of films.

What I love in this film is it is so sad. Although the storyline is a bit long as it shows almost the protagonist whole life but it can really tears you up. At least it works for me. I tears not because of someone death but is the life of Salvatore that touch me. It is just so pathetical. For example, Toto loses his father since he was a kid. Her mother doesn’t care much about him at the first place but he didn’t turns into a bad or desperate kid. He still chase after his dream and he enjoy his life so much. I think that he is so awesome like he can find a way and handle his life at his age. Of course he is so lucky to meet the other character Alfredo who teach him how to run a projector. His life could definitely change if he doesn’t meet Alfredo. I love the last part which Toto sacrificed his love just to chase his dream. This is so realistic which always happen in real life. Sometimes you have to sacrifice things to reach any other thing. This is life and all you can do is deal with it. Overall, I like the character and the movie is so inspiring.