Il postino

Plot synopsis:
Mario Ruoppolo is a young man in an insular Italian fishing village where time moves slowly. Since Mario's seasickness doesn't allow him to fish, he is given the job of postman, delivering mail on a bicycle to only a single customer, the famous Chilean poet Pablo Neruda. After a while, the two become good friends. Neruda has been exiled to Italy because of his communist views. In the meantime, Mario meets a beautiful young lady, Beatrice Russo, in the village's only cafe. With the help of Neruda, Mario is able to better communicate his love to her through the use of metaphors. The two are later married. The poet Neruda and his wife are allowed to return to Chile. Some months after Mario makes a recording of village sounds for Neruda. Years after Neruda come back to the island as a tourist, he finds Beatrice and her son in the same old cafe. Through her, he discovers that Mario had been killed a while back. He was going to read his poetry at a large political gathering in Naples but was killed by police intervention. Beatrice gives Neruda the recordings of village sounds, which also record the sounds of police brutality leading to Mario's death.

Tags: boring

Review:
This is a timeless story of friendship, poetry and love set in a desolated island that was to be Pablo Neruda's home in exile.The story is a simple one.
In trying to imitate his poet friend, Mario awakens to all the beauty around him and discovers love with the gorgeous local girl, Beatrice Russo.The film's mood changes right after Pablo Neruda and his wife receive assurances they can go back to their native land.
Neruda had awakened in Mario a desire to speak for himself and to seek justice.This is a film totally dominated by the late Italian actor Massimo Troisi, who as Mario, completely captures us by just being a simple soul with no malice.
A beautiful movie that does an excellent job bringing to life Neruda's love poems and how they touch the life of a simpleton postman.
A sweet, gentle film about a quiet postman who discovers the power of poetry in winning the heart of his true love.Massimo Troisi gives a warm, wonderful performance as said postman, while Phillipe Noiret plays the poet Pablo Neruda.
The setting, a sleepy Italian village, gives the film a cozy atmosphere, and it's got a lovely score to match.One of the rare foreign-language films to be nominated for a Best Picture Academy Award, it lost to the thunderingly stupid "Braveheart." Mel Gibson could use a little poetry himself.Grade: A.
Mario (Massimo Troisi) longs for something more than his simple fisherman life on an Italian island, so he takes a small job as a postman, delivering mail to famed romantic poet Pablo Neruda (Phillipe Noiret), who is living in exile on the same island.
Massimo Troisi gives a wonderfully contained performance as the postman who learns to see the beauty in poetry and his home on an Italian island.
Neruda died in 1973, but really did spend several years in exile in Italy, and really is a world-famous poet.In this fictional story, simple and honest, but somewhat dim, 40-something Mario Ruoppolo (Massimo Troisi, who died of heart failure right before the movie was released) is the son of a small time fisherman.
And the friendship that eventually develops between Neruda and Mario changes their lives.The third central character is pretty and sexy 20-something Beatrice (Maria Grazia Cucinotta) who works in her fiercely protective aunt's bar and restaurant.
He tells Neruda later, "Poetry doesn't belong to those who write it, it is for those who need to use it."A very charming and meaningful movie on DVD for those who don't mind reading English subtitles.
The movie ends with Neruda on the beach where he and Mario had had so many wonderful conversations, reflecting on the beauty of the island and how it influenced his poetry.
What really makes the film stand out, however, are the two great performances from Noiret and from Massimo Troisi, who tragically died of a heart attack soon afterwards, as Mario.
Directed by Michael Radford the film relates the heartwarming story of Mario (Massimo Troisi), a gentle and simple postman who falls for the beautiful café waitress Beatrice (Maria Grazia Cucinotta) from his village, but is too shy to speak to her.
Soon he is able to win the love of Beatrice and even stand up for and express his own beliefs.This is a simple story graced by sensitive performances: of not the actor Massimo Trosi died from heart failure on the last day of production of the film.
There's a bit of 'Cyrano' in this tale of Mario Ruoppolo (Massimo Troisi), a somewhat unprepossessing part time mailman (he has but one customer) who falls for a local beauty, Beatrice (Maria Grazia Cucinotta), but has no idea how to pursue the longings of his heart.
But as luck would have it, Mario's customer just happens to be Pablo Neruda (Philippe Noiret), a South American expatriate who is also a world renown poet recently exiled to this small island off the coast of Italy.
There is nothing singular about Mario; he is nondescript, just an average guy, and it illustrates that common bond among us all, that of having wants and needs to be expressed and fulfilled-- especially with regards to matters of the heart-- for as Mario discovers, love knows no boundaries.Troisi gives a strong performance as Mario, but is almost too retiring to be effective, though his character contrasts well with that of Noiret's Neruda, whose zest for life is more readily apparent.
Then a poem simply written on the black screen closes the tale by summarizing and succinctly depicting the essence of the movie, before a dedication is made: "To our friend Massimo" This is Troisi's film and he also participated in the fine writing with a simple but heartfelt story and exquisite dialogue.
I suppose that French Philippe Noiret, from Cinema Paradiso ) fame will need as little directing as Troisi in portraying real life Chilean poet and political activist Pablo Neruda.
Intrigued by this famous figure, he starts to awkwardly ask questions about poetry and a genuine friendship develops between them.Mario, the postman, is lovestruck by Beautiful Beatrice (Scicilian Maria Grazia Cucinotta) and runs to the man who seemingly woes hundreds of women with words, but her ultra-catholic aunt may end up being a bigger obstacle than his lack of romantic banter.
Beyond the typical love story that is more of a backdrop to the tale of friendship is the appreciation for poetry and in art to express the beauty of life.
The real life poet who's poetry is used in the movie and who's life inspired the character that is so central to the story, to the small town to Mario's growth as an individual.
A Chilean poet is exiled from his homeland and forms an unlikely friendship with his simple-minded island postman.There is no ready-reckoner in cinema: Big subjects don't necessarily make "big movies" any more than small subjects result in "small movies."This is a small film - but for all the right reasons: It is about a time, a place and the people that mill about in that time and place.
There is no do-or-die driving narrative, rather a simple tale of love and friendship.Perversely the death of the lead Troisi just hours after the filming ended gave the film a spotlight it really didn't want or need; indeed the tragic knowledge haunts you while watching the film proper.Credit British director Michael Radford whose C.V. now includes this, 1984 (another film that had big post-wrap problems - this time over the use of pop music!) and even an episode of Homicide: Life on the Street.Maybe the script didn't allow anything other than straight story telling, but he hasn't tried to do anything other than stand back let the story tell itself.
what a magnificent movie, legendary work by Michael Redford , everything about this movie is beautiful ,,winning Oscar does not come in easy way ,,be it budget,,cinematography covering island's natural beauty ,,specially sea settings ,humourous dialogs with utmost simplicity and realistic performances by actors ,everything is admirable.sometimes you do not plan to make a great movie with highly perfection attitude but movie becomes and gets applauded ,,same happened with this movie,what i believe what is metaphor Mario asks Pablo says-like sky is weeping what does it mean Mario says means to say sky is raining Mario's response it's complicated and Pablo's response that complication does not have to do anything with person's emotionsvery meaningful and soulful dialogs ,that is the reason movie does not become boring end of the movie is very surprising ,it keeps you involve in the movie movie was shot on the island near by Meditteranean sea and every time tides go and again come to touch coastal areas that resembles one excellent scene goes with the hope to come with another lovely scene filled with emotional and heart touching dialogs to touch your heartmovie is pretty simple but can you predict what's gonna happen in next scene ,probably not ,it has certain surprising elementsthis movie is not a movie this is everlasting experience to live with and cherish it.
I also got to know the sad story of Massimo Troisi, who played the title's postman (Pablo Neruda's postman).
You can say that he gave his life to make this film.Massimo Troisi is great as Mario Ruoppolo, the postman.
But it's also sad to see him in this film because we are looking at a man who was dying while making it and that he died almost immediately after completing it.Phillipe Noiret is great as the chilean poet Pablo Neruda.
But I don't know if a postman named Mario Ruoppolo existed in real life or not and if he was Pablo Neruda's postman or not.The film's got beautiful cinematography and soundtrack, which gives it more emotion and beauty.
shot on location on the Italian islands of Salina and Procida and wonderfully photographed by Franco Di Gialomo this is the story of an unemployed and unmarried man Mario Ruoppolo (Massimo Troisi) reaching middle age years and is offered a small job as a postman with only one customer, the exiled Chilean communist poet Pablo Neruda (Phillipe Noiret) who is staying on the island.
Mario and Pablo develop a warm friendship which leads a new confident Mario into writing poetry himself to woo local beauty, the barmaid Beatrice Russo (Maria Grazia Cucinotta).
Basically a two actor film with a great cast in Troisi, Noiret and Cucinotta with great support in small roles from Linda Moretti as Neruda's mistress Donna Rosa and Renato Scarpa as Mario's boss.
Simple Italian postman learns to love poetry while delivering mail to a famous poet; he uses this to woo local beauty Beatrice.Some have called this film a "romance between two men", albeit two men who love the ladies.
Phillipe Noiret, as Pablo Neruda, the Chilean poet-in-exile who befriends Mario (Troisi), gives one of his most memorable performances.The location is enchanting.
The film is a ground zero character study working its way up, centring on one man and coming to gloriously flesh out his relationships with two people in the form of a mentor and a love interest using the item of poetry, and poets in particular, as a focal point or anchor around which to revolve the ever shifting lives of these half a dozen-or so people.
The central character is a certain young man named Mario Ruoppolo, played by Italian actor Massimo Troisi whom died shortly after the film was completed and is one of only seven people to have won a Posthumous Academy Award for acting, which he won for his portrayal of a character named Mario.
On another tangent, that later will become intrinsically linked to that of Mario, a controversial poet from South American nation Chile of true to life existence named Pablo Neruda (Noiret) arrives in Italy having been exiled.
Set in a beautiful exotic Italian island, director Radford tells the story of a poet and a postman.
Emotional and somber film about the titled character (an Italian postman played by posthumous Oscar-nominee Massimo Troisi), a shy and reserved man who finds love in beautiful waitress Maria Grazia Cucinotta.
Once again the beautiful way the Italian cinema embraces smart human stories makes "Il Postino" one of the finest films of the last decade.
The movie develops the relationship between Pablo Neruda and Mario better than it does with Mario's love, Beatrice Russo.
Massimo Troisi, the star of the movie, is listed as collaborating director.Massimo Troisi plays Mario Ruoppolo, a quiet fisherman who falls in love with Beatrice Russo (played by Maria Grazia Cucinotta).
He is a humble man, and Beatrice is the most beautiful woman on the island, so everyone assumes that this will be unrequited love.However, the great Chilean poet Pablo Neruda is living in exile on the island.
The music and scenic backdrop of the Italian coast are the finishing touchesThe story line is simple:  exiled poet Pablo Neruda temporarily resides on a small island.
And I don't think that it'll change if I watch it again."Il Postino" IS about the relationship of Mario, a postman, and the known poet Pablo Neruda.
The scenery is absolutely breathtaking however, as is Maria Grazia Cucinotta.In the midst of a pre-WW2 economic depression, Mario Ruoppolo (Massimo Troisi) takes on a part-time job delivering mail to the remote cliff-side home of the famous poet Pablo Neruda (Philippe Noiret).
Not just in showing the friendship between humble postman Mario Ruoppolo (Massimo Troisi, who died the day after they finished filming) and Neruda (Philippe Noiret), but also how it looks at post-WWII Italy and how the people were trying to put their lives back together.
I think that my favorite scene was Mario recording the various sounds; I would say that it displayed his full artistic potential that he had developed through his friendship with Neruda.But anyway, it's a really great movie, the sort of thing that gives you new faith in life and love.
Il Postino is a simple but beautifully told tale of an illiterate postman - the excellent Massimo Troisi's - friendship with exiled Chilean poet Nablo Neruda.
This is one of the finest examples of Italian and International cinema in the tradition of Amarcord and Cinema Paradiso.The simplicity and beauty of the story, the realistic acting, the lush settings of the village and island and the lovely score sum up to make a moving cinematic experience which one can revisit repeatedly and gain something new from.There is much humor in Troisi's wooing of village beauty Beatrice Russo and the pacing of the film, while leisurely,  is never stagnant..
The great Phillipe Noiret plays the poet Pablo Neruda who shows the postman Mario, played by the fantastic Massimo Troisi, how to use words.
Il Postino is a great Italian movie, that tells about a postman called Mario Ruoppolo, played by Massimo Troisi, who has only one person to deliver the mail to, and that person is a great poet called Pablo Neruda (Philippe Noiret).
Mario and Pablo become friends, and Pablo teaches Mario something about poetry.Mario falls in love with a local girl called Beatrice Russo (Maria Grazia Cucinotta), and he wins her heart with poetry.Il Postino is a poetic and beautiful movie, and all the actors do a great job.Massimo Troisi died shortly after the movie was made, which is sad as the movie itself.
The accidental postman, who for his own benefit/curiosity took the opportunity of delivering letters to that great master of poetry (none other than Pablo Neruda himself), expanded his horizons and learned how to attract the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.The backdrop of Neruda's exile in Italy from his homeland gives the story an interesting time-frame in the political history of the 20th Century.
If you like Italian films or poetry or political science or simply a beautiful love story, don't miss Il Postino.All in all, it is a memorable movie and an immortalizing last performance of Massimo Troisi..
This film is beautiful and charming, and captures the full range of human experience and emotion in the person of Mario, superbly characterized by the late, great actor, Massimo Troisi.
Mario blossoms from a simple man to a great poet, lover, and proud comrade as he is inspired by the poet, Pablo Neruda and the lovely local girl, Beatrice Russo.
(A German proverb has it that "hunger makes the best cook.") But about one quarter of the way home the story begins to build, and by the time it's over we are in tears.Massimo Troisi stars as the postman who wants to learn and use the power of poetry to woe the girl he loves.
When I watched this film I was stunned by simplicity and yet beauty of story and relationship which develops between postman and famous poet.
* it's star, Massimo Troisi, died the day after filming,* the performances are so perfectfully natural,* the original musical score is positively enchanting,* the romantic tangos of Carlos Gardel transport us,* the direction, script and artistic direction are finely wrought,* it has a quiet charm,* it featured one of my favorite actors, Phillipe Noiret,* the scenery is positively breathtaking,* it features examples of Neruda's ravishing poetry,* it is easy to love a love story,* Italy, it's language and people hold an abiding fascination to me,* the depiction of the political situation in 1952 was accurate,* we need simple, tender film to remind us that life has it delights.I fell in love with this movie for all of those reasons and several others which my words will never be able to evoke.A score of 10 would do injustice to a masterwork such as this which has been left for our delight, for many ages to come.Long live the poets!.
Certainly, in the real world, Mario was not beautiful enough for Beatrice, but they came together through the magic of Pablo Neruda's poetry.
It is the best film I have ever seen.I think it shows us there is no need to high technology,a lot of money and famous actors or actress to make a good movie.It is an excellent example of Europen Cinema.If you enjoy love stories and interested in politics you should watch Il Postino..
The simpleness of Massimo Troisi's character (Mario) in relationship with the portrayal of Pablo Neruda, was a kind and gentle learning experience, that brought both a smile and a genuine closeness to the screen.
Nominated for Best Actor (Massimo Troisi), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Music, Best Director, and Best Picture, "Il Postino" is a tender tale of love and poetry on a small island in the Mediterranean Sea, inspired by an incident in the life of Pablo Neruda, the Chilean poet who was briefly exiled, in 1952, for his communist ideas which have often got him into trouble...'Il Postino' is a beautiful, heartbreaking movie, funny in its simplicity and honest dialog...
Other than that, this is a gentle story that reveals a developing relationship between Neruda and his dedicated postman Mario Ruoppolo (Massimo Troisi) on an Italian island.