Review of Cinema Paradiso (1988) by Goatlips — 31 Mar 2021
Cinema Paradiso [1988, 173 min, Director's Cut].
Like it or not, the edited version misses out the end of the story and, thus, the entire point of the film! The hacked version may be more palatable or enjoyable, but that's not the point - the 'New Version' is the true story. The full length, 173 minute, 'Director's Cut' reveals an 'English Patient'-like morbid tale, whereas the edited film must be like a version of The English Patient where Fiennes & Scott-Thomas never have the affair!
It's a dark film, but I fail to see where the R rating comes from, the only nudity is shown on the censored clippings film (which, admittedly, is unnecessary).
The point of the film is that the projectionist deliberately sabotaged the youngster's affair so that it'd be romanticised in his mind forever and never spoilt - like the perfect love depicted in the movies. I don't think you'd appreciate this from the watered-down cut.
The 173 min Director's Cut is the definitive version (and actually the originally shown version) and the greatest foreign language film ever made - it was finally released on Blu-ray with the 25th anniversary edition.
NB: The film was released in 1988, not '1990'.
This review of Cinema Paradiso (1988) was written by Goatlips on 31 Mar 2021.
Cinema Paradiso has generally received very positive reviews.
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