Richly sentimental, and brimming with a contagious love of movies, this Academy Award winner is heartwarming, escapist and inspiring to armchair filmmakers everywhere
One of the most popular foreign-language films ever, this is an exercise in how to warm the heart, raise a smile and create a slightly longing sigh in people of all generations.

　　The story is simple: a famous director returns to the village where he grew up and relives the moments in his life that formed him. Most of these centred on the local fleapit, the Cinema Paradiso, and the projectionist (Noiret) who became a surrogate father offering advice on how to live a life well. There are two parts to the film: the first is seen through the eyes of a child, the second is how Salvatore takes over as projectionist and makes a foray into teenage love.

　　Director Tornatore and his cast never put a foot wrong in obtaining the laughs or occasional tear, but the film belongs to Noiret, who is superb.
Verdict
A justifiably much-loved film. This is a touching, memorable landmark in contemporary Italian cinema.