Cinema Paradiso

Movie Poster

Trying to pen out my thoughts about this movie is not easy because I do not usually contemplate and ponder on movies after watching them - but here goes

I'll talk about some scenes that piqued my interest and why it did.

Nostalgia

Toto going through the debris in the cinema

One of the most prominent scenes in this movie is when Toto returns back to Giancaldo to attend Alfredo's funeral. Seeing Toto staring forlornly at the debris in the cinema before it was demolished gave me a feel of nostalgia (McDonald, 2016). I felt as though I had grown with Toto and had missed the memories that were created in the cinema and in Giancaldo. Toto had grown so much and had become successful, but at Giancaldo is where he found his passion, a fatherly figure and his first love. Seeing the building be demolished and watching the scenes of Alfredo's funeral made me feel as though Toto's childhood had come to an end. 

Personally, I felt the director did a great job directing this scene as it evoked a few positive feelings in me. I felt proud of Toto and how far he had came and had grown from the young boy that got excited over film reels.  

Relationships

A beautiful relationship

I loved the relationship that blossomed between Toto and Alfredo. To me, it was refreshing and just something unique than the usual father-son relationships portrayed in other movies. Toto was a nuisance as he was mischievous and cheeky but Alfredo took him on as an assistant, albeit reluctantly. Their relationship blossomed soon after, with Alfredo protecting and helping him. Also, Toto willingly went back to the burned cinema to save his life. What warmed my heart was when Alfredo told Toto to leave Giancaldo and never to give in to nostalgia. Alfredo was willing to sacrifice his companionship with Toto so Toto could make a name for himself.

Alfredo had great love for Toto

This scene captured my attention as how many individuals out there would gladly sacrifice relationships with their good friend? In this case, even telling their friend to never come back or think about their family so their friend could achieve greater things. Alfredo had great love for Toto as he willingly placed Toto's well-being before his own. 

Sacrifices comes with a cost

Toto attending Alfredo's funeral

Chasing after your dreams and ambitions comes with a cost. Alfredo was very much aware of this; hence, he insisted that Toto leave Giancaldo and to never return. With that, Salvatore Di Vita became a successful movie director at the cost of familial relationships and love. Till the present day in the movie, Salvatore moved from one relationship to another as he could not find love. What else did Toto had to sacrifice? He was not present at Alfredo's last moments, instead only being present at his funeral. He missed out on spending quality moments with his father-figure, Alfredo and his mother.

With this, I've come to be aware that we cannot have everything we want in life. In order to be successful in a particular aspect in life, we have to sacrifice another aspect in our life.   

A gift

Toto, touched by his gift from Alfredo

What could be the reason for Alfredo leaving the spliced films of couples kissing for Toto? In my opinion, I think that Alfredo intended the gift for Toto to remember his roots and how his passion came about as Toto was fascinated with the spliced film containing the kissing scenes. Alfredo also wanted Toto to remember the necessary sacrifices he had to make to be the person he is today. It is a reminder that his passion for movies had and should further push him to achieve more greater things. 

Significance of the cinema

The cinema meant so much to the villagers, and the cinema was always packed

The cinema signifies the power of dreams. It is where everyone goes to forget their problems, as one villager can be seen as saying how he came to the cinema to escape from his wife. It is also assumed that the patrons of the cinema come to watch movies to escape their problems as they became frustrated when the second part of the film they were watching were not shown or when the villagers became angry as they had to leave the cinema as it had closed for the night. 

Toto has passion for films

To Toto, the cinema signifies the beginnings of his dream as it is where he found his passion for film. To Toto, the cinema is where he found Alfredo, someone he regarded as family. Consequently, the cinema lead him to be a successful and respected movie director. 




References
McDonald, H. (June 23, 2016). The two faces of nostalgia. Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/time-travelling-apollo/201606/the-two-faces-nostalgia