Also known as it's proper name: Nuovo cinema Paradiso, this story tells the tale of a young boy who escapes to a cinema projection room where the kind, but elderly, projectionist encourages the boy's future career.
We see a man called Salvatore (Jacques Perrin) receiving news from his aging mother that someone in his hometown has died.
We soon find out that this gentleman is a very much revered film director who returns home to his small Sicilian village for the first after almost 30 years.
A beautiful story thus unfolds as he reminisces about his childhood and the paths he took to get him where he is today.
A childhood spent mainly at the Cinema Paradiso where Alfredo (Philippe Noiret), the projectionist, was first responsible for bringing out his love of films.
The two had a bond that consisted of many highs and lows, highlights and tragedies which shaped the way the boy grew up and forced him to pursue his dream of working in film.
He is also reminded of his lost teenage love, Elena, who he had to leave before he left for Rome.
Italian dialogue with subtitles.