Salvatore (adolescent): Marco Leonardi	Salvatore (child): Salvatore Cascio
Salvatore (adult): Jacques Perrin	Elena (adolescent): Agnese Nano
Elena (adult): Brigitte Fossey	Alfredo: Phillippe Noiret
Marie (young): Antonella Attili	Maria (old): Pupella Maggio
Director: Giuseppe Tornatore

30 Second Bottom Line: A successful filmmaker returns from his sophisticated life in Rome to his small hometown on Sicily for the funeral of his childhood mentor, the town's movie projectionist, Alfredo. This voyage triggers his memories of growing up guided by Alfredo, his burgeoning passion for film and his unrequited love for his teenage sweetheart, Elena.

Story Line: Cinema Paradiso is a lush, romantic, sensuous ode to the passions of life. In an interview I once had with Studs Terrell, he claims life is all about love and passion for your work-those are the two most important elements of one's life. Here both develop richly for Toto, but unfortunately, as in so many lives, he ultimately trades away his love for Elena to launch his career as a successful filmmaker.

As a young child Toto is full of mischief, energy and spunk and obsesses about the cinema. The town's movie theater is his home and since Toto's real father is lost at war, the projectionist, Alfredo, takes on the role of father, idol and mentor. Alfredo claims to be the projectionist at Cinema Paradiso more by default than by passion, but recognizes that for Toto, the cinema is in his blood. He helps develop Toto's knowledge of handling the film and when Alfredo is burned in a fire in the projection room and is left blind, their roles reverse and Toto becomes projectionist, Alfredo is his assistant.

The Cinema Paradiso is also the center of the town's identity. The townsfolk laugh, love and emotionally relate as a community through their love and excitement about movies. It is the heart of the town, bringing joy to its inhabitants.

As Toto matures he falls in love with the delightful Elena, the wealthy banker's daughter. Being the romantic he is Toto waits for a sign from her, while he stands guard underneath her window for a year. When he gives up Elena finally gives him her heart. Elena's father is opposed to her choice and is determined to separate the young lovers. Toto is drafted into the army and through some manipulation on the part of Alfredo, they completely lose contact with each other. Thirty years pass and Toto has developed into a highly successful filmmaker, but one who has never found a woman for his heart.

In returning home he ultimately reunites with Elena and discovers Alfredo's part in ending their relationship and destroying their plans to marry. Alfredo knew this romantic love would take away from Toto's focus and career in film.

Tell Me More About It: This film captures the essence of a man's life, gently bringing us from childhood to middle age believably and beautifully.

The original Cinema Paradiso, released in the U.S. in 1988, was shortened by 51 minutes, cutting much of the love story between Toto and Elena. This director's cut runs close to three wonderful hours.

Giuseppe Tornatore was just thirty-two years old when he finished this film, an incredible accomplishment for a director of any age. The casting is superb. His style of mixing old movies with the drama of everyday life creates an engaging sense of surrealism. The film captures the essence of a community with the excitement, magic and the draw of early cinema and television. We feel the hypnotic effect as the lights go down and the world on film lights up.

This is a story of simple people with tremendous passions. It will touch your heart and bring you into a different time and place. There's love, challenge, disappointment and pain-a world of emotions and change.

This is an ultimate classic film. It's elegant, hypnotic, and beautifully blends old film clips and reality, giving us a magical view of life and love.

Salvatore Casio: Jackpot	Marco Leonardi: Texas Rangers
Jacques Perrin: Scenes de Crimes	Agnese Nano: Lingo Silenzio
Brigitte Fossey: Un Vampire au Paradis	Phillippe Noiret: Soleil
Antonella Attili: Prima del Tramonto	Pupella Maggio: Amacord
Giuseppe Tornatore: Malena