Since he was just a little adorable Italian boy, Salvatore "Toto" (Salvatore Cascio, Marco Leonardi, Jacques Perrin) had one great love. The cinema. Toto, working as an altar boy, would sneak into the theatre when the priest would pre-screen the movies and tell the projectionist, Alfredo (Philippe Noiret), to remove the more suggestive scenes (any kind of kissing). When Alfredo would re-cut the film Toto would sneak in and start talking to him, demanding that he get the leftover film scenes but Alfredo would never allow it. So Toto stole it and hid it under his bed, along with pictures of his father, who died in the war.
Although Alfredo thinks of Toto as a pain in his ass, the two eventually become friends after helping each other out. First, Alfredo saves Toto from a beating from his mother after spending grocery money on movies. Then later Toto helps Alfredo pass a grade school exam (since he never finished school). In return, Alfredo teaches Toto how to use the projection. One night the film reel catches fire. The whole theatre is in a panic and Alfredo is trying to put out the flames, but it catches too quickly and he gets badly burned. He would have died if it hadn't been to tiny little cute as a button Toto, who pulled him out of the fire. Unfortunately, Alfredo lost his sight. When the theatre was re-built, Toto is hired as the new projectionist but the bond between Alfredo and Toto is unbreakable.
As Toto mature, so does the theatre. Since being under new management, they start showing more provocative films. The audience too seems to become more rowdy. Toto now has a camera of his own and runs around town shooting scenes. One day, he captures a new girl in town, Elena (Agnese Nano). He instantly falls in love and eventually she does the same. However her father does not approve of their relationship and she ends up moving away. Heartbroken, Toto goes off to do his mandatory military time. When he comes back he realizes that things are different, yet the same (as is true with any small town).
The movie started out great, but maybe it's because little Toto with his big puppy dog eyes had me hooked for the start. I thought it did seem a little long once Elena came into the picture and I just wanted to go back to the story between Toto and Alfredo. It's funny how a story between an adult male and an innocent little altar boy can be so endearing. If that were to happen in real life today it would be extremely creepy and I'm sure the story would have taken an awful turn somewhere. Oh to go back to the good old days when things were much simpler. The filmmaker definitely captured the joy and excitement of going to the movies that I think many of us forget about once we get older. The only thing that really bothered me (other than Elena slowing down the movie) was the advice Alfredo gives Toto at the very end. I'm not sure I really agree with it 100%. But I don't want to give it away, so you should just watch to find out.
Rating: ****
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