“Cinema Paradiso”

Starring Philippe Noiret, Jacques Perrin, Marco Leonardi,…

“Cinema Paradiso”

Starring Philippe Noiret, Jacques Perrin, Marco Leonardi, Agnese Nano, Brigitte Fossey

Directed by Giuseppe Tornatore

Traditionally, the work of directors to tweak their films into “director’s cuts” has been met with controversy.

Take “Star Wars,” for example. The addition of the Jabba the Hutt scene in “Episode 4” received mixed reactions from fans; some thinking it adds to the film, others thinking it cheapens it. This also happened to the recent re-release of “ET.”

Earlier this year, though, Milos Forman released a longer cut of “Amadeus” that didn’t merely add a scene here or a special effect there. Instead, it added a good half hour of new footage that enhanced the already excellent film.

“Cinema Paradiso,” the 1990 best Foreign Film Academy Award winner, has received the “director’s cut” treatment. Thankfully, director Giuseppe Tornatore went the “Amadeus” route, adding close to an hour of new footage into the film.

“Cinema Paradiso” centers on Salvatore, played as a young man by Marco Leonardi and as an older man by Jacques Perrin, and his journey through a rough childhood to emotionally challenging adulthood, with the backdrop being a small Italian village’s only movie theater, the Cinema Paradiso. Integral to Salvatore’s life is Alfredo, played by Philippe Noiret, the older projectionist at the theater who reluctantly teaches Salvatore the art of movie theater projection.

But more than a coming-of-age tale set in post-World War II Italy, “Cinema Paradiso” is, at its heart, a tale about first, and lost, loves. In this case, Salvatore falls madly in love at first sight with Elena, played as a young woman by Agnese Nano and as an older woman by Brigitte Fossey, after she arrives as a transfer student from another village. Her parents don’t approve of the relationship and quickly shuttle her off to another school, leaving Salvatore heartbroken and determined to find her.

The pain and heartache put on screen in the film, not only in the relationship between Salvatore and Elena but also in his relationship with Alfredo, are so real that the actors don’t seem to be acting at all, merely living.

“Cinema Paradiso” far surpasses most films in its quality and ability to realistically depict relationships between parents and children, friends and lovers. In this new director’s cut of the film, 51 minutes of additional footage have been added. The additions have created a deeper, richer film that, despite being close to three hours long, keeps the audience wanting more time with the lives presented on screen.

The new cut of “Cinema Paradiso” has been making its way around the world for the better part of a year, finally making its way to Pittsburgh this week. The wait has been worth it.

“Cinema Paradiso” is currently showing at The Oaks Theater in Oakmont. The theater is located at 310 Allegheny River Blvd. in Oakmont. Call (412) 828-6322 for information or check out the theater’s Web site at www.theoakstheater.com.