2005 Film Index Back to Main Site		Back Cinema Paradiso Italy / 123 min Written and Directed by Giuseppe Tornatore Cinematography by Blasco Giurato Original Music by Ennio Morricone A famed and beloved classic, Cinema Paradiso is a nostalgic look at a young boy's coming-of-age in postwar Italy and his fascination with a small local cinema. This beautifully filmed tribute to the power of movies that captivated an entire generation of filmgoers is set in a small Italian village but the characters, situations and changes it depicts are universal. "Alfredo is dying." Those words jolt the successful filmmaker Salvatore into contemplating his childhood and the hours he spent in the projection booth of his adored local movie theater, Cinema Paradiso. Alfredo, owner of the movie house, befriended and encouraged young Salvatore as he grew up in his small Sicilian home town, ravaged by the horrors of the war. The cinema offered escape and fantasy to the townspeople, including Salvator’s mother, a grieving war widow. In one breathtaking scene, a popular comedy is projected onto the walls of the town square (think: Ellensburg Film Festival Outdoor Venue) and the entire town glows in the dreamy light of projected celluloid, washing away the harsh realities of poverty and grief. As Salvatore grows to manhood, his friendship with his mentor deepens. With the love and guidance of the aging man, Salvatore navigates the trials of first love and builds on his ever-growing passion for the cinema.