Told in flashback, Cinema Paradiso chronicles the close, enduring friendship between Salvatore "Totò" Di Vita (Salvatore Cascio), a young, movie-mad Italian boy who lost his father in World War II, and Alfredo (Philippe Noiret), the gruff yet caring projectionist at the only theater in the rural Sicilian village in which they live. Alfredo becomes a surrogate dad to Totò, and the two forge a tight bond during countless hours alone in the projector booth. Through thick and thin, they cater to the theater's loyal patrons, who faithfully gather to laugh, cry, gasp, hiss, and dreamily gaze at the stars and stories on the screen. The townspeople also decry the cuts mandated by the puritanical local priest, who previews all the films and forces Alfredo to excise every lascivious action and innuendo.
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Alfredo and Totò's mutual regard and devotion may propel Cinema Paradiso's narrative, but the relationship between the disparate townspeople and the theater they faithfully attend resonates just as strongly, especially today as we all grapple with the effects and challenges of a global pandemic. I've seen Cinema Paradiso before, but this time, as I watched this lyrical film depict a throng of passionate movie fans continually flocking to a theater to communally share a multitude of cinematic experiences, the images provoked a profound sense of melancholy and longing for an activity that once was such a vital part of our social fabric and is now - at least in many areas of the country - forbidden.
Cinema Paradiso arrives on 4K UHD Blu-ray packaged in a standard case inside a sleeve. The 122-minute theatrical cut of the movie, presented in UltraHD (Dolby Vision/HDR), resides on Disc 1, while the 174-minute director's cut, presented in 1080p, resides on Disc 2. A beautiful 28-page booklet, featuring an essay by film writer Pasquale Iannone, an array of color scene shots, cast and crew listings, and transfer notes is tucked inside the front cover. Video codec for the 4K UHD disc is 2160p/HEVC H.265 and default audio is DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. Once the disc is inserted into the player, the full-motion menu with music immediately pops up; no previews or promos precede it.
The 2160p/HEVC H.265 transfer of the theatrical version, presented in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible), is often breathtakingly beautiful. The exterior daytime scenes exude a glorious vibrancy and crystal clarity that help immerse us in the Sicilian countryside. While grain can be heavy at times and the texture fluctuations might seem a bit jarring, the transfer's overall appearance remains wonderfully film-like, and that's essential for a movie like Cinema Paradiso. Bold colors (especially reds) add brilliant accents, but a natural look predominates, supplying a welcome aura of realism to a dreamy, nostalgic tale. Rich blacks, bright whites, and excellent shadow delineation enhance the picture, and fine details, like the specks of dust dancing in the projector's light beam, are marvelously distinct. Razor-sharp close-ups highlight glistening sweat and facial stubble, flesh tones are authentic and stable throughout, and costume fibers are crisp. No nicks, marks, or scratches mar the pristine source material and no digital anomalies intrude. If you're a diehard Cinema Paradiso aficionado, you'll definitely want to upgrade to this 4K UHD edition.
Cinema Paradiso will always bring a tear to the eye and put a lump in the throat, but during a global pandemic that has shuttered theaters and isolated movie fans, writer-director Giuseppe Tornatore's film resonates more strongly than ever. Arrow Academy's 4K UHD rendering of the theatrical cut (culled from a new 4K restoration) eclipses all other home video versions and instantly becomes the definitive edition of this romantic, nostalgic, and blissfully melancholic classic. Though the audio and extras remain the same, the allure of seeing this Oscar-winning film in Dolby Vision/HDR10 should be enough to merit an upgrade for fans of this enduring foreign film. Highly Recommended.
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