You can always rely on Shawn to provide us a dose of his euroness. This review is sort of spoiler-ish.

Cinema Paradiso foreign film about a small Italian village dated back in during the war, and specifically about the compelling friendship between, Salvatore, a young boy with a love for cinema, and Alfredo, the neighbourhood theatre projectionist.

Of course, Salvatore has a love interest in this film, which included a very convicing on-screen kiss. Shima, Shawn and I agree that it’s hard to find a tasteful, convincing, and not-overly-sexual kiss, and this really gave it to me.

By the way, the girl, Elena, really looked like Kimmy Gibbler from Full House, but sweet.

Anyways, the love interest was only secondary to the dominant plot between Sal and Alfredo. I was seriously quite moved by the development of great friendship- and even almost familial father-son love- between these two characters. The film followed through Salvatore’s bond with Alfredo from his days as a young child, through this adolescence, and even up to the times well into his adulthood.

There were many teary moments in this film- but not overly and unnecessariy sentimental like many ‘chick flicks’ of today. It was enough to really illustrate a great sense of realism that I really became compelled to. I almost felt like I wanted to give Alfredo a really big hug, just because he expressed so much love to this boy.

Plus, little Salavatore was just so cute. Everytime I hear his yell “Alfredo,” I swear, I’m going to cry.

(…also when I see cream sauce in my pasta.)

Neuvo Cinema Paradiso (1989) - [imdb.com]