The Ambition of Cinema Paradiso, Essay Example

The director of this beautiful film intended to convey wonderment about the magic inspired by movies and movie theaters. In order to accomplish this level of ambition, he used a lively mixture of local village residents, including the pastor who served as the unofficial censor for the town; several nearly separate stories portraying Toto, the main character, as a young boy, a young man, and a successful film director later in life; and the key relationships portrayed in the film. Primarily, though, the purpose of the film was to pay tribute to cinema, and he did so by creating the story within this story, i.e. the love of the projectionist for the films he presented to the townspeople of Sicily and the love of the village for their theater. The film creates much nostalgia for the experience of going to the movies as a child and disappearing into the imaginative world on screen that for such little resemblance to one’s own life.

The film is notable in its appeal to the emotions rather than the rational, objective side of people’s lives. Toto experiences a whole range of emotional experiences, including delight, wonderment, love, and heartbreak. The movie itself takes the viewer through these emotions as well as, leaving the audience as much in love with cinema as the characters in “Cinema Paradiso.” The director succeeds in his purpose, bringing the audience to the final scene of the long montage of kissing scenes cut out by the sensor, and having a tremendous tear-inspiring vision for the audience. This film is beautiful and purposeful in its adoration of film and classic theaters, as well as the movie-going experience.

Given the director’s intentions and the film’s level of ambition, how well does the film succeed in what it tries to do? Why does it succeed or fail?