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Big Screen Classics: Cinema Paradiso (1988)

A filmmaker recalls his childhood when falling in love with the pictures at the cinema of his home village and forms a deep friendship with the cinema's projectionist.
(NR, 121 min.)

Showtimes

Tuesday, December 3, 2024

(TBD)

Celebrate cinema this fall with a lineup of beloved classic films perfect for the big screen. From epic adventures to timeless comedies, enjoy iconic films that bring people together through masterful storytelling, stunning cinematography, and unforgettable experiences. Free for members.

Set in an Italian village, Salvatore finds himself enchanted by the flickering images at the Cinema Paradiso, yearning for the secret of the cinema’s magic. When the projectionist, Alfredo, agrees to reveal the mysteries of moviemaking, a deep friendship is born. The day comes for Salvatore to leave the village and pursue his dream of making movies of his own. Thirty years later he receives a message that beckons him back home to a secret and beautiful discovery that awaits him. [Miramax]

Starring: Philippe Noiret, Enzo Cannavale, Antonella Attili
Director: Giuseppe Tornatore
Languages: English, Italian, Portuguese
Genre(s): Drama, Comedy, Romance

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"It is, in a word, exquisite."

— Rita Kempley, Washington Post

"Anyone who loves movies is likely to love Cinema Paradiso."

— Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

"Cinema Paradiso converts you to the credo that art can indeed be holy."

— Jay Scott, The Globe and Mail (Toronto)

"Still rapturous after all these years, Cinema Paradiso stands as one of the great films about movie love."

— Ann Hornaday, Washington Post

"This film is sometimes funny, sometimes joyful, and sometimes poignant, but it's always warm, wonderful, and satisfying."

— James Berardinelli, ReelViews

"It's a shining valentine to the movies--full of homages, collages and swooningly romantic Ennio Morricone music--and it gets right at the messy, impure, wondrous way they capture and enrapture us."

— Michael Wilmington, Los Angeles Times

"You leave Cinema Paradiso with that feeling that's kind of like getting kicked in the stomach, but nice. It's one of those breathless, swept-away-by-a-movie experiences that you might have once a year, if you're lucky."

— Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle