Often with film, it takes more than one watch to truly love or understand it. When I was in High School, I watched Cinema Paradiso and absolutely hated it. I felt it was boring and had nothing to say. Almost 4 years later, I realize that Cinema Paradiso is a film that wears its heart on its sleeve.
A true love letter to cinema, Giuseppe Tornatore truly captures that no matter how different we all are, cinema can bring us together. This Italian town is the true main character of the film, we see so many personalities laugh and grow alongside the main character. I loved the detail of a couple meeting at the cinema, their family growing at the cinema, and being there in the final moments of the film still in love.
At times the film feels like it’s juggling a lot at once. The main character’s love story never truly resolves itself even if it feels so important, but this seems more like a victim of the re-edit the film was forced to do. Overall, Cinema Paradiso was a beautiful film that I grew to love more over time, just like the characters in the film.
4.5/5