Il Postino: The Postman (1994)

Original title

Il postino

Directed by

Michael Radford

Genre

drama film, romance film

Country

France, Italy, Belgium

Runtime

1h 48m

Rated

PG

Rating

7.9 of 10 from 1,227 voters

Elsewhere

IMDb

How it feels

A simple postman on a small Italian island forms a friendship with the exiled poet Pablo Neruda. Through their connection, the postman discovers the power of poetry and falls in love.

tenderwarmslow-pacedbittersweetgentlepoeticaffectionatequiet

What happens

Il Postino: The Postman (Italian: Il postino, lit. ''The Postman''; the title used for the original US release) is a 1994 comedy-drama film co-written by and starring Massimo Troisi and directed by English filmmaker Michael Radford. Based on the 1985 novel Ardiente paciencia (English translation: "Burning Patience") by Antonio Skármeta, itself adapted from a 1983 film written and directed by Skármeta, the film tells a fictional story in which the real life Chilean poet Pablo Neruda forms a friendship with a simple Procida postman (Troisi) who learns to love poetry. The cast includes Troisi, Philippe Noiret, and Maria Grazia Cucinotta. The screenplay was adapted by Radford, Troisi, Anna Pavignano, Furio Scarpelli, and Giacomo Scarpelli. Writer/star Troisi was severely ill during filming, postponing heart surgery so it could be completed. The day after principal photography ended, he suffered a fatal heart attack, and the film was completed and released posthumously. The film was critically acclaimed, earning numerous accolades including BAFTA Awards for Best Film Not in the English Language, Best Direction, and Best Film Music. Composer Luis Bacalov won the Academy Award for Best Original Dramatic Score, and the film was nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published. (from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)

Trailer

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