Search - Cinema Paradiso [Widescreen] on DVD

MPAA Rating: NR Content Advisory: Adult Situations, Suitable for Children Movie Release: 1988 DVD Release: 01/25/2000 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV Audio Tracks: English, Italian Subtitles: English, French, Spanish SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 2 hrs 1 mins Studio: HBO Home Video Members Wishing: 26 Genres: Drama, Melodrama, Coming-of-Age See Also: Cinema Paradiso, Cinema Paradiso [Special Collector's Edition]

Cinema Paradiso offers a nostalgic look at films and the effect they have on a young boy who grows up in and around the title village movie theater in this Italian comedy drama that is based on the life and times of screenwriter/director Giuseppe Tornatore. The story begins in the present as a Sicilian mother pines for her estranged son, Salvatore, who left many years ago and has since become a prominent Roman film director who has taken the advice of his mentor too literally. He finally returns to his home village to attend the funeral of the town's former film projectionist, Alfredo, and, in so doing, embarks upon a journey into his boyhood just after WWII when he became the man's official son. In the dark confines of the Cinema Paradiso, the boy and the other townsfolk try to escape from the grim realities of post-war Italy. The town censor is also there to insure nothing untoward appears onscreen, invariably demanding that all kissing scenes be edited out. One day, Salvatore saves Alfredo's life after a fire, and then becomes the new projectionist. A few years later, Salvatore falls in love with a beautiful girl who breaks his heart after he is inducted into the military. Thirty years later, Salvatore has come to say goodbye to his life-long friend, who has left him a little gift in a film can. In 2002, over a decade after the film's original release, Tornatore brought the original 170-minute director's cut to American screens for the first time. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Philippe Noiret - Alfredo
Salvatore Cascio - Salvatore (Child)
Marco Leonardi - Salvatore (Adolescent)
Jacques Perrin - Salvatore (Adult)
Antonella Attili - Maria (Young)
Pupella Maggio - Older Maria
Agnese Nano - Elena (Adolescent)

The Academy Award winner for Best Foreign Film of 1989, Cinema Paradiso is one of the most successful foreign films ever to play in the United States. The DVD offers a chance to watch it in many different ways, but with very few extras. The special features consist merely of cast and crew filmographies, an awards list, and the original theatrical trailer, but as is common with foreign film DVDs, the extras are not as important as the audio and video quality of the film. In this case, the widescreen transfer is very good, while the sound is merely stereo, no Dolby or THX options. Unfortunately the language choices (original Italian, or English dubbing) don't make up for the weak audio on the disk. Most disappointing of all is the presentation of the subtitles. Though they are offered in four languages (English, Italian, French, and Spanish), they use white lettering, not yellow, and cover the film image instead of the letterbox matte. ~ Arthur Borman, All Movie Guide