Tag: jacques perrin

directed by Giuseppe Tornatore

I love watching films considered to be masterpieces and finding them quite average in the end. It’s not like I find pleasure in hating and criticising. Sometimes I really can’t understand why some productions are taken for the top. Today I’d like to write about a film that is very good, but I have a solid argument against giving it 10/10 or anything close to it. But firstly, let me say a few words about the story. The main character is Salvatore Di Vita (Salvatore Cascio, Marco Leonardi and Jacques Perrin), a famous film director from Italy. At the beginning he returns home to find out that his mother had called. His old friend Alfredo has died and together with Salvatore we go back to his childhood memories. Back then he was being called Toto and, except being a typical boy, he was in love with films. He could spend hours in their local Cinema Paradiso. He made friends with the projectionist named Alfredo (Philippe Noiret). Now you know who Alfredo was. Those two were not only buddies, but also a teacher and a student, because little Toto wanted to become a projectionist as well. However, his older friend told him that there’s a much better career waiting for the boy. I don’t want to write more because it’s actually a lovely and sometimes a bit depressing story, because there’s an accident and… something happens. Dot. Enough. Anyway, as long as I do think it’s a very good production, I believe the director made a big mistake. This film has different cuts. The most popular one lasts 124 minutes. However, the director’s cut lasts 173 minutes. What happens during those almost 50 minutes? A lot! And here comes a SPOILER, so if you haven’t seen the film, watch it and finish reading. Once again, SPOILER ALERT. So, as you know, Salvatore falls in love with Elena (Agnese Nano). Their relationship is an important element of the story. Later Salvatore leaves his hometown and returns only for Alfredo’s funeral. In the international cut (shorter), there’s absolutely nothing about Elena at the end. And in the longer version Salvatore actually meets Elena and they can explain certain things to each other. Perhaps the romance between them wasn’t the most important element of the story, but with that longer ending, I would be more satisfied. I felt like somebody was telling me something and suddenly walked out of the room. I understand that they had to make that international cut because of many reasons. Yet, cutting out the whole part that is a significant conclusion of the romantic plot wasn’t the best idea. I haven’t had a chance to see the longer version, so with what I got (the international cut), I think it’s very good, but there’s a big hole that bothers me. Yet, watch even the shorter one, because it’s still worth it.

My rating: 7/10
S.