Cinema Paradiso

Salvatore, a popular Italian film director, arrives in his home town to attend the funeral of Alfredo, an old projectionist. Memories take him back to his childhood, when little Toto lived with his lonely mother. He spent all of his days at Cinema Paradiso, the only cinema in the area, helping Alfredo with the projector. The films shown at the cinema are always censored by a local priest, who does not allow any kissing moments. After a fire in which Alfredo loses his sight, the cinema is reconstructed. Now coming of age, Salvatore starts to work there as a new projectionist. He falls in love for the first time, serves in the military, and survives a painful break-up. Blind Alfredo advises him to leave and never come back, because he believes Salvatore is destined for greatness. Salvatore obeys. It takes him thirty years to find his way back home and pay his respects to an old friend. He also witnesses the cinema demolished. The last gift from Alfredo in an old film reel containing all the kissing scenes once censored by the priest.