But then we turned on our television late last night and one of my favorite films of all time was on - Cinema Paradiso, the story of a famous film director, Toto, remembering his childhood in Sicily where Alfredo, the Cinema's projectionist, first encouraged his love of films. He returns home to his Sicilian village for the first time after almost 30 years for Alfredo's funeral and the stories of important people in his life unfold - but it's mostly the tender love story between Alfredo and Toto.
The town priest ordered Alfredo to remove all the kisses from the films, judging they were too provocative and stirring for the small town's film going audience - pretty well everyone in town. Great scenes in the movie include shots of that audience, including Toto, mouths agape, watching as the hero and heroine close in for a passionate smacker and just at the penultimate moment, there's a hiccup and the movie goes forward, kiss eliminated; the audience boos, eyes roll, feet stomp.
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| Toto watching the kisses |
The film has a wonderful ending - all those censored out kisses spliced together on a reel and left as a last, loving gift from Alfredo to Toto.
Kisses
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Sepia Saturday
Oh Helen, I feel so proud to hear that the Italian "Nuovo cinema Paradiso" is one of your favourite movies!!
ReplyDeleteA wonderful example of the silliness of the narrowminded. Whilst, the act of censorship elevated something that was probably quite innocuous - the revenge was so sweet
ReplyDeleteOh, Helen,
ReplyDeleteI'm all aflutter! After our book club this week and now this!!!!!.
Barbara
If that lot were cut how much would they have to cut today? I'm now wondering about Barbara's book club.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great story. Now there is a film I need to seek out.
ReplyDeleteI'm wondering about that book club too.
ReplyDeleteOh, it's been years since I saw that film. Thanks for the reminder. I looked it up and see that I missed its showing on Friday, but have another chance on the 23rd and 31st of FLIX here in the US.
ReplyDeleteI love how serendipity stepped in and rescued you for this week's theme. Very good!
ReplyDeleteWhat a perfect post for this week's theme. I love that movie too. It's so frustrating because I have an empty VCR sleeve for it - where did the movie go? I guess it went away like the kissing scenes!
ReplyDeleteDid you notice in the comments on the Youtube site that people mentioned the Simpson's did a take on this scene? I'll have to look that up. I'll let you know if I find it.
Nancy