Cinema Paradiso

Chugging along on my resolution to watch 5 foreign films this year (with the new stipulation that no more will be French) Sunday night I watched the Italian film, Cinema Paradiso. Wow. First off, I'd never heard enough about it before to know that there were two different versions- the original and a later released director's cut with almost an hour of extra film. I ended up watching the director's cut, simply because that was the disc that Netflix sent me. Somebody (I guess me, huh) should tell them that their sleeve however gives the running time of the original version. I can't say I would have watched the movie when I did had I known it was actually much longer, as I started it rather late. But I am so glad that I have seen this movie. I can't say anything to the original version, since I had no idea that wasn't what I was watching and some people have complained that the extra scenes make it too long, and change the storyline of the original which was already a wonderful film. All I know is I absolutely loved this movie, and found myself crying for probably the last 30 minutes. As corny as it may sound I think a part of me really identified with the movie-loving main characters in part because of my years working at a theater myself. If you can sit still for the long haul you should definitely watch this film.

Breathless

I finally got around to watching Breathless this weekend, which I've had at home from Netflix foooorever. I thought it was good, but it doesn't oust any of my favorite foreign films from their place at the top. I did lovelovelove Jean Seberg's style in the film though. Her dresses, hair, all totally lovely. Now that I've gotten a start on my foreign film resolution I've tossed another one to the top of my queue. I've decided to not watch anymore French films though, and instead am saving them until next year when I'm hoping to really focus on learning French. So, next up on the foreign film list is Cinema Paradiso.