Nuovo Cinema Paradiso Academy Award Winning Movie

Nuovo Cinema Paradiso is an Academy Award winning Italian film, written and directed by Giuseppe Tornatore in 1988. In France, Spain, UK and the US it was internationally released as Cinema Paradiso in 1989. The film was a critical and commercial success bagging a plethora of international awards.

The script of Nuovo Cinema Paradiso set in post World War II Italy takes a nostalgic note on films, the way they cast an effect on young Salvatore when he grows up around the local theatre Cinema Paradiso. After a long journey of success when Salvatore(Jacques Perrine) finally returns to attend Alfredo's funeral.Salvatore reminiscences his childhood, and his mentor Alfredo(Phillipe Noiret), the projectionist at the theatre. young Salvatore would forget the mundane life of the Sicilian village lost in the darkness of the theatre and the magic of films. And Alfredo would inspire this love.

Nuovo Cinema Paradiso talks about young Salvatore's love Elena(Agnese Nano) and their estrangement. Alfredo, who instills into Salvatore the love for movies, also played a role in their estrangement. But only for Salvatore to chase his dreams, and which Salvatore realised by becoming a famous director. After a long gap of 30 years they meet but Salvatore's love for Elena is never realised as she eventually refuses to carry on the relationship further.

The climax of Nuovo Cinema Paradiso shows Salvatore with a gift which Alfredo has left behind for him. The can consists of a film made by all the romantic scenes cut from various films in an attempt to please the local priest, the virtual censor. The novel gift brings tears to Salvatore's eyes. This final medley of kissing scenes is considered to be a classic moment in the history of cinema.

Nuovo Cinema Paradiso won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film and the Grand Prix du Jury in Cannes, both in the year 1989. In 1990 it bagged a Golden Globe and a BAFTA for Best Foreign Language Film. The movie is a celebration of films. A brilliantly told tale of youth, friendship and dreams. Of love and of pain.

The film was released in Italy at 155 minutes but was later cut down to 123 minutes for international release. It was this second version which bagged all the awards. In 2002 a new version of Nuovo Cinema Paradiso was released at 173 minutes known as the Director's Cut but is often criticised for its increased focus on Salvatore's romantic anguish rather than cinematic magic.

Director Giuseppe Tornatore treated Nuovo Cinema Paradiso as the ultimate dedication to the everlasting magic of movies and an obituary to the old-styled cinema theatres. He can be seen in a cameo as the man working on the projection machine when Salvatore is watching the compilation of scenes left by Alfredo. Cinema Paradiso