Il Postino
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Movie Reviews of Il Postino
Movie Review: Simplicity elevates tale of poetry, love, and devotion
Summary: 5 Stars
"Il Postino," by British director Michael Radford, provides a powerful reminder that even in this age of special effects and mega-buck blockbusters, the key to any good film is a good story. The rest is all window-dressing -- which can be entertaining, but a movie is never elevated to greatness by window dressing.
This movie, set in the early 1950s, starts with an incredibly basic "fish out of water" premise, and slightly tweaks it. Our hero, Mario Ruoppolo (Massimo Troisi, who may have the most soulful eyes of the 90s), is a fish very much of the waters of his small, rustic Italian island. The fish out of water is the famous poet Pablo Neruda (Philippe Noiret), exiled from Chile. Mario is unemployed, so he takes the low-wage job of postman for the famed Neruda, who lives with his gorgeous wife in a picturesque, isolated villa.
Mario is naturally star-struck by this celebrity who can move thousands with his words. Mario is a quiet, uneducated man living among quiet, uneducated islanders (the only jobs seem to be fishing and serving wine to the fishermen). And yet Mario has a romantic soul and an inquisitive mind, and soon his honest, naive questions have struck a chord in Pablo's heart. The poet takes Mario under his wing, teaching him the basics of poetry.
This is great timing for Mario, for he is struck by the thunderbolt of love when he sees the beyond-beautiful Beatrice Russo (Maria Grazia Cucinotta -- you will be thunderstruck when you see this beauty). Mario's dumbstruck awe is hilarious during a foosball game with this angel. But taught by Pablo, can he fail to win Beatrice's heart?
But this is Italy, a land of sorrows, and while Mario may get the girl, he loses Pablo. The political winds change, and Neruda returns to Chile. His departure injects a melancholy into Mario's life, but Mario now has the craft to give voice to all his ideas of love and justice. Soon, Mario is taking a stand not just for his own emotional well-being, but for the political future of the island and its people.
An emotional ending provides many surprises, and a few tears.
This is a beautifully shot movie, but uses a realistic eye. This is not a glossy coffee-table book of a movie like "Under the Tuscan Sun," which pummels you into acknowledging that Tuscany is gorgeous. Rather, "Il Postino" is shot in such a way as to remind you of the beauty we see in our everyday life, including the rush of the waves over the pebbles, or the unadorned view of stars in the Italian sky. Cinematographer Franco Di Giacomo outdid himself here.
The realistic beauty of this Italian island is almost topped by the understated soundtrack, which relies heavily on traditional Italian instruments like the accordion. Isn't it amazing how the accordion gets so little respect in the United States, and yet it often provides the perfect tone for movies? While this isn't a hyper-witty soundtrack like "Swingers" or "Pulp Fiction," it is safe to say that this soundtrack is one of the most effective in recent years.
As you can tell, I am a huge fan of this movie. It is very political for a "romantic comedy," and don't go in expecting a European attempt at a Meg Ryan film. "Il Postino" tells a wonderful story of simple people living their lives in a simple, earnest way. It will irresistably melt your heart.
Movie Review: An achingly beautiful movie that will come back to you again and again
Summary: 5 Stars
You have probably read the plot summaries above and you know that this is the story of a postman (il postino) and a poet-Pablo Neruda. It's the story of their relationship during a period (1949-1952)when Neruda was exiled from Chile for his political activities and settled on a small italian island.
The easiest story to understand in this movie is the one about the postman's love for the tavern keeper's neice and how Neruda helps him frame his feelings in words and win the girl's heart. It's a variation on the Cyrano de Bergerac/John Smith story and very sweet. There's another, more indirect story of il postino's growing love for his island and its beauty.
There is also the poignant subtext of the movie itself: the actor Massimo Troisi, who plays the postman died of heart failure (heart failure after filming a love story!) a few days after shooting was completed. He knew as the film was being made that he was unlikely to live to see it edited and exhibited.
But the surprising and subtle part of the story is the combination of affection and indifference that the great poet showed for his humble acolyte. Most American viewers can't help but wish for Neruda to remember his postman after he leaves the island, to stay in touch. We hope for a great democrat in a great artist.
Alas, Neruda was a lover of The People, but not necessarily of persons. His distance is realistic, even if not emotionally satisfying to the viewer. After all, most Nobel Prize winners probably don't remember the fellow who brought them the mail at the house they occupied in exile.
Anyway, a few days ago I came on this poem by Neruda. It's called 'A Dog has Died' I read it because my dog too has died and . . . . well anyway, here it is:
No, my dog used to gaze at me,
paying me the attention I need,
the attention required
to make a vain person like me understand
that, being a dog, he was wasting time,
but, with those eyes so much purer than mine,
he'd keep on gazing at me
with a look that reserved for me alone
all his sweet and shaggy life,
always near me, never troubling me,
and asking nothing.
And suddenly I understood a bit more about Neruda and il postino. I think I'll watch the movie again.
Lynn Hoffman, author of The New Short Course in Wine and the forthcoming novel bang-BANG from kunati press.
Movie Review: ONE OF THE BEST FILMS OF ALL TIME SILENCED FOR ITS POLITICS
Summary: 5 Stars
First of all, tell me how these fat old LAtin American artists get all the most beautiful girls: Diego Rivera in Mexico and Pablo Neruda exiled from Chile.
Remember how Neruda returned from exile to serve under the freely elected democratic government of President Salvador Allende, who was assassinated during the Nixon Kissinger invasion of Chile on 9/11 of 1973, establishing the long and gruesome right wing military dictatorship under General Pinochet, killing many thousands, including Americans, forcing many more into exile, and finally finishing the heroic and resourceful Neruda.
But that is beside the point. This film focusses on an earlier period of political exile in Neruda's long and productive artisitc life, in which his presence awakens poetic expression in the heart and soul of a local man who wishes to effectively express his feelings for a young lady, through the powers of metaphor and metonymy.
Moreso it explores political corruption among the fascists, and their ultimate tragic victory over the democratic and just aspirations of the people. Thus it is a beautiful, triumphant but ultimately tragic movie made all the moreso with the writer and main actor's death.
YOu can see he knew he was dying, as many scenes show him standing leaning against his postman's bicycle, after which he would need to lay down and rest his ailing heart. He died on the final day of production, sacrificing his life for this film.
After this please see Woody Allen's The Front, and Clooney's Good night and Good Luck, and the film The Cradle Will Rock for an American perspective of similar political themes. For further information on Chilean politics get Marc Cooper's Pinochet and Me, etc.
But above all read your Neruda, biographies, poetry and all. Read as much Neruda as you can find. Read Neruda. Now. Learn the relatively easy language of Spanish to read him in the original, and do your own translations, and your own reflections upon your own life. Let Neruda let you learn to express your own heart and soul and mind to those whom you most love, and hate, but learn now to love through writing.
Meet Mr. Neruda. You too might learn to win her heart. Yes, Hers.
Movie Review: Poignant and nostalgic film
Summary: 5 Stars
Il postino is the film adaption from the novel of Chilean author Antonio Skármeta. the Basic plot is almost identical. Apart from the fact that in the movie Mario is 30 year old Italian rather than 18 year old Chilean boy who worships Nobel lauterate poet Pablo Neruda.
Due to the change of background, the movie is almost non-political in comparison to the novel that describs the advent of horrible dictatorship of Pinochet. Although there are a couple scenes that remotely criticize allegedly right wing politician, who call D'Annunzio as "His Poet", as well as huge communist demonstraion scene in the end that beautifully potrayed in Black and White.
Since Mario doesn't want to follow his father's vocation as fisherman, he spends most of his time doing practically nothing. It was late 40s or early 50s in southern Italy where unemployment rate was higher than the rest of Europe ,thus most able young men tended to leave their hometown for either to Turin ,Milan, Germany or the United States.By chance, Mario obtains the position as a postman in a local post office . In truth , it's special type of postman who exclusively delivers mail for the sake of world famous poet Pablo Neruda who recently exiles in Italy. At first , Mario seems to be interested in the sobriquet of Pablo Neruda "Poet of Love and Women",however , a bit by bit thorugh contacting Pablo Neruda , Mario begins to change and opens his eyes to the power of poem and the world he could not see. The slow change is portrayed so naturally by late actor Massimo Troisi. Some will say his acting is slightly passive.But it's his style; a bit mumbling , hesitating , stammering as if he ie a bit mentally challenged.As many people pointed out it is not a romantic comedy,but it was heart warming movie that show how friendship and poem can change a person who otherwise remains passive and never try to change his life. Yes, Poem is his savior. The last scene (demonstration scene) was truly poignant and resounding.
Movie Review: Poetry Can Win That Special Someone
Summary: 5 Stars
"Il Postino" ("The Postman") is a triumphant italian film released in 1995 starring renowned italian star Massimo Troisi. It received five Oscar nominations including Best Picture and won one (Best Original Score). This film follows the true events of a shy man Mario who falls in love with a young beautiful woman Beatrice. His inspiration to win over her heart was world-famous Chilian poet Padro Neruda. The two stories combine create a film that follows friendship, love, and politics. Everything happens after Mario accepts a job at the post office, riding his bike to deliver mail. These passionate events lead to an unforgettable conclusion that will leave audiences breathless.
This film is told wonderfully through poetry. Yet, the poetry and the screenplay writing distinguishes itself perfectly to tell the story of Mario's sudden emotions. Therefore, the characters aren't always speaking poetically. The impressive creativity within the writers separates their efforts from most other films. Throughout the film, the emotional stance maintains its loveliness within love and past hardships endured by a certain man. Somehow, they manage to fit the wonders of living in Italy beautifully.
These words are expressed wonderfully through the actors. Though all the performers worked great, Triosi and Phillippe Noiret state their presence most powerfully. Triosi's powerful theme goes beyond his sudden death one day after filming. His Oscar-nominated efforts (Best Actor) as Mario proves his passion for this film. He leaves the acting scene with his best performance in his fifteen-year career. Noiret's underrated performance as Neruda maintains the political stance of the film beautifully. His efforts give great homage as the influence of the film events.
Such film quality makes "Il Postino" great viewing pleasure for a variety of audiences. This is sure to continue pleasing its audiences for some time to come.