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Mario Ruoppolo: Massimo Troisi Pablo Neruda: Philippe Noiret Beatrice Russo: Maria Grazia Cucinotta Directed by Michael Radford. Written by Anna Pavignano, Micheal Radford, Furio Scarpelli, Giacomo Scarpelli and Massimo Troisi, based on "Burning Patience" by Antonio Skarmeta. Running time: 113 minutes. Rated PG (for mature themes). |
There is a sense of warmth and love in the air whenever you see Mario on the screen. You can't help but smile whenever he comes on. He has a sort of simple innocence that you wish we all possessed. Mario seems to have this wonderful glow on screen, as he has an infectious smile to go along with his amusing personality.
Unfortunately for Mario (Massimo Troisi), he lives in a place where no one can appreciate and enjoy his company. Mario resides on a quiet and isolated island, where there is no running water and new ideas are an oddity. Suffice it to say, Mario lives in a village where little changes and the residents seem content that their village acts that way.
In the first couple of scenes, we find Mario acquiring a job as a postman. His first task is to deliver mail to the new resident on the island, high above the hills and far away from the town. His task is arduous as he has to take a bike to carry out his duties.
We find out that the mystery man is Pablo Neruda (Philippe Noiret), the famous poet, who has been exiled from his native Chile for political reasons, and has come here to live until he is welcomed back. We can see why Pablo chooses the island, as no one will fuss about his Communist beliefs or horde his home because of his popularity. Of course they have to find him first. Despite the village's shortcomings, the island is beautiful and can provide any poet with instant inspiration.
Mario grows fascinated by Neruda, who seems to receive letters mostly from women. Mario decides to hang around Neruda, hoping he can get some pointers on how to meet girls. Their relationship grows slowly, as the visits are short and sparse. Neruda is a quiet and isolated man. His only companion is the woman he lives with, perhaps it is his wife, but the film never informs us. Mario intentionally tries to find ways to make his trips more frequent and longer in duration. As Mario succeeds, he tries to strike up conversations to forge a friendship, with the famous poet.
With each conversation, Mario hopes to learn something from Neruda that he can use in his quest to meet someone. One of Mario's ploys is to ask Neruda to sign a book that consists of Neruda's poems. Neruda agrees and signs it "Regards, Pablo Neruda." Mario is disappointed at the entry, as the book is not personalized. How can he prove to women his friendship with Neruda is close with that entry?
We later find out that Mario is interested in a very sexy and sultry woman named Beatrice Russo (Maria Grazia Cucinotta). She is probably the most beautiful woman on the island, as men hit on her all the time. Of course their attempts are futile, as she ignores their come-ons. Mario falls for her, but is speechless everytime he is in her presence. We find that quite evident when we see him play a game with Beatrice. Mario doesn't seem to have the words to entice her and make her swoon over him. Mario decides to ask his good friend Pablo to help him woo this woman. Pablo agrees.
As Mario and Pablo's relationship grows, the two men grow also, as they both learn something about themselves. Mario learns that everyone is poetic and has creativity inside of themselves. Mario learns that he just hasn't found something that can inspire and spring his talent forth. It becomes clear that Beatrice is the inspiration he needs and who better to help him than Pablo. Pablo on the other hand has learned the simple joys that people like Mario have come to enjoy everyday. Life is simple and that is how everyone should live it.
It was not a secret that Massimo Troisi had a heart condition that rendered him weak and feeble throughout the whole shoot. His condition forced the Italian actor to work only an hour or two a day on his movie. Two cardiologists and an oxygen tent stood by on the set for Troisi, who couldn't walk more than a few feet before sitting down. A high school gym teacher had to serve as his body double for more than half his scenes. Despite these obstacles, Massimo continued to work on the film and stayed until its completion. He died the day after he finished shooting. "I believe if he hadn't done the film," says his director, Michael Radford, "Massimo might possibly be alive today."
When you watch the film, it would never occur to you that Massimo was in pain. His performance seemed to fit Mario's personality. Perhaps it was his condition, or his sense of the material, that caused Massimo to play the role in such a low-key manner. Mario acts as if he were an old man. His speech is calm and slow, as he never seems to push for an effect. His character spends the entire film essentially violating Neruda's privacy, but he does it so quietly, you never think he is interrupting.
In the end the Postman is a very touching and humorous story. It is a sweet film about a man, who just wants to be loved.
Troisi, who has been plagued with cardiac problems, since a youthful bout of rheumatic fever, suffered a heart attack during an operation to replace a valve in 1993. "His eyes told me he was afraid," said Nathaly Snel Caldonazzo, who lived with Troisi the last two years of his life. "He did the film to get him out of his depression. It was a way of lifting his spirits." Troisi may have done this film to lift his spirits, but in the process he has lifted ours too. Grade: B+
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