Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
yet another rave review!, 18 Dec 2005
It hardly seems worth writing yet another enthusiastic review of this marvellous film, but I like it so much that I want to perform this one small service for it. From the moment that Salvatore hears of Alfredo's death, in the dark of the night from his current but no doubt temporary lover - and we do not know who Alfredo is, or why the successful Salvatore is so affected by the news - to the very poignant ending as he views the little wisps of censored film which are his legacy from the old man, it is charming, moving, funny, beautiful to watch, exquisitely performed and quite original. There is one moment, when Salvatore returns to his old room in Sicily for Alfredo's funeral and sees the picture of himself as a child with Alfredo, smiling and happy, that I still find difficult to watch (for all the right reasons!). And so it is one of my favourite films. Last summer we were in Sicily, in Cefalu, and I found out by chance that some of this film was filmed there. Visit that beautiful old fishing town if you can ; it's well worth it. If not, at least watch this wonderful film!
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16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
See the Director's Cut, 6 Aug 2006
Some of these Amazon reviews have got it wrong. The Director's Cut is the original version of the film, the way the director wanted it. It was then shortened because it was thought to be too long for an American audience. The method of shortening was basically to cut off the end of the film, thus distorting, really removing, the plot.
If you have seen the short version, you will find very few changes or additions in the first two hours, but the extra section near the end will give you a new perspective on the main characters.
The original version is certainly darker but Alfredo is not manipulative in a selfish way, he simply interferes once in Toto's life for, as he sees it, Toto's own good. At the end, Toto realises that this is the real message of the "kisses": Alfredo has cut out the love from Toto's life.
Will Toto and Elena continue their relationship? She says no and he says yes.
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27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Perfect, 23 May 2006
This is without doubt the best foreign film I have ever seen, with the possible exception of Das Boot (for which the latter falls into a totally different category anyway). Even if you are not facinated by cinema, don't let this put you off, because the shear quality story, acting, direction and romantic passion drive this film like a beautiful Ferarri. The locations are stunning and the story one of the best ever written. If you aren't really keen on films with subtitles. Please give this one a chance, because if any foreign film can sway you to watch more foreign films it is surely this one. It is nostalgic, romantic, beautiful and above all simply perfect. Buy it or rent it now! You will see what I mean.
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