Cinema Paradiso

     Once there lived a boy who truly loved films. The time he lived was late 1940s, in Italy, and everybody was having a harsh after-war life. His name was Salvatore (but he was more often called Toto), and he had his best friend Alfredo, who was also his best mentor. Salvatore picked up operating movie projector. In those days, movies were censored, and Alfredo cut out films containing kissing scenes and put them on floor. One day, the movie house was on fire. Salvatore saved Alfredo’s life in the fire, but Alfredo got blind. New movie house was reconstructed, and Salvatore became a new projectionist of the movie house. Time passed, and Salvatore had his first love threshing his mind. Elena was daughter of a wealthy banker, and knowing his daughter was in love with a poor Latino, Elena’s father moved away with her. With broken heart, Salvatore left the town. He became a famous film director. After decades, Salvatore received a call telling Alfredo’s death. He returned to his forgotten hometown. What was waiting him was his family, married Elena, and finally, a gift Alfredo had left for Salvatore. It was a collection of kissing scenes that was cut out of the reels in the old days.

     This the whole story line of Cinema Paradiso. As to be one of the most seen movies in the world, this movie’s plot seems a little too dull. So this movie has several factors, other than its plot, that makes it so special. And perhaps, music is the most outstanding factor.

     There are three major songs in this movie: Cinema Paradiso, Toto and Alfredo, and Love Theme.

1. Cinema Paradiso

     As you can see in the title, Cinema Paradiso is the main soundtrack of this movie. This song usually appears in scenes related to the movie and film. When a new movie house opens because the old one got burnt, when Salvatore visits the movie house ‘cinema paradiso’ decades after he’d been there, and when ruinous movie house cinema paradiso is demolished, the main theme song flouts out.

2. Toto and Alfredo

Toto is a nickname of Salvatore when he was a boy. Thus, the song Toto and Alfredo often appears in the first half of the movie, focusing on the relationship between Toto and Alfredo.





This song can be divided into two parts. First half of the song has vivacious melody and quick rhythm. This part of the song usually floats when Alfredo can still see, and when their relationship is pretty simple and peaceful (as a friend of each other).

Second half of the song usually comes out in a heavier atmosphere. Scenes with this melody usually contain earnest conversations between Toto and Alfredo. Most of the time they talk on projectionist’s future and Toto’s love story. As a life mentor of Toto, Alfredo gives many valuable answers to Toto’s problems. This song appears last when Toto leaves his hometown, waving good-bye to Alfredo.

 

3. Love Theme

In fact, there are two versions for this one song-one for string version and one for orchestra version. Though, they both come in much more serious situations than other songs. When Salvatore is broken-hearted by Elena, when Salvatore counsels with Alfredo about love, and finally, when Salvatore watches the last film of kiss collection Alfredo had left for him.

My Subjective Review
Content/Structure ★★★★☆


▶I found the content of this movie a bit insipid. A story of a child growing up and eventually reminiscing his childhood after a long way around is one of the most commonly used synopsis. However, I liked the way movie was organized. The movie starts with adult Salvatore. Then it flashbacks to his childhood, and then returns to adult Salvatore.




Soundtrack ★★★★★

▶Soundtracks from this music is quite well-known. (I heard that Minjok Orchestra is performing ‘Love Theme’ for the school music concert thing this Saturday.) But other than the music’s’ artistic value, consistency of relationship between the music and movie scenes makes the moviegoers to associate the movie house and this song unconsciously, which definitely helps them to fall into the movie.



Creativity/Novelty ★★☆☆☆

▶Despite my personal preference for this movie, I do not think the movie Cinema Paradiso is so much novel.



Casting ★★★★☆

▶Among my ‘subjective’ evaluations, I think this category includes my subjectivity the most. I personally thought young Toto performed very well in his age. Alfredo’s affable appearance fits well to Alfredo’s character, too.