Cinema Paradiso (1988)

Cinema Paradiso is a beautiful and brilliant film celebrating the early days of cinema and the joy it brought to so many people. The film is mainly set in the 1950s and chronicles the relationship between Alfredo ,a cinema projectionist (played to lovable perfection by Philippe Noiret) and Salvatore Da Vita, an italian boy with a loveof movies. The film cuts from past to present with the older Salvatore returning to his home town after the death of Alfredo, his fond friend who he had seen in years. The film is beautiful in its simplicity. The director, Giuseppe Tornatore, does not go for showy offy tracking shots or fast montages or any of the modern technical trickery. He just relies on the simple but charming story and the beauty of the location. The score of the film is also incredible, with music composed by previous Sergio Leone collaborator and world-famous composer Enio Morricone with his son and they evoke the period, the setting and the timeless feel of the film brilliantly. So overall, the acting is extremely good with especially the youngest child actor of Salvatore being fantastic. The cinematography is beautiful and the lighting magnificent. The story is so pure and the direction is flawless. A perfect film. By Jack Cooper