Sunday February 2, 2025, Cinema Italia: Cinema Paradiso * 1988 * Directed by Giuseppe Tornatore * 173 min * In Italian with English subtitles * doors open at 20:00, film starts at 20:30. After the film, please engage in sharing comments, ideas, and inspiration with the host(s) of the evening!
The public image of this film is that of a portrait of a neorealist Sicily in the past, with a vein of nostalgia. And a homage to cinema, for the many citations of classics, especially American films. But it is much more than that. Cinema Paradiso tells the story of cinema as a unique experience: in each projection, the projected film is only part of the story; the audience plays an essential role in the experience, transforming the film, and even a role plays the projectionist, often forgotten. In the latter, this film tells us about a form of art and poetry that disappeared with digitalization. In the background, many political messages, such as those of the Communists in Sicily, were at the margins of a society where poverty was an everyday reality. This makes us question what we are ready to sacrifice to escape misery.
Film night at Joe’s Garage, cozy cinema! Free entrance. You want to screen a movie, let us know: joe [at] lists [dot] squat [dot] net
