Who is Pablo Neruda?
Pablo Neruda is a poet that women love.
Pablo Neruda is a poet who is respected by the people. He is a communist. Clear?
Film The Postman / Il Postino (1994) takes viewers on a pleasantly nostalgic journey to the middle of the last century. This leisurely movie, depicting the challenges of Italian life, may slow down the pace a bit, but it rewards patient viewers with a wave of powerful emotions.
Directors Michael Radford and Massimo Troisi (who also stars as postman) skillfully bring the characters to life through long takes and well-thought-out compositions. Observing the story becomes an additional source of entertainment and a natural process as one contemplates the visual narrative.
The Postman / Il postino (1994) – biographical film
Pablo Neruda, a renowned Chilean poet and literary figure, was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1971. The film “Il Postino” (1994) is based on Antonio Skármeta’s 1985 novel “Ardiente Paciencia” (later known as “El Cartero de Neruda” or “Neruda’s Postman”). It revolves around the story of a local postman, a humble individual living on the island of Salina near Sicily during the 1950s. The postman becomes intrigued by the volume of mail received by a recently arrived foreign gentleman. This gentleman is Pablo Neruda (portrayed by Philippe Noiret), who spent some time in exile on the island and befriends the postman, ultimately inspiring his love for poetry.
“When you explain poetry, it becomes banal. Better than any explanation is the experience of feelings that poetry can reveal to a nature open enough to understand it.” /Pablo Neruda/
The biographical nature of the film somewhat limits the creative freedom of the filmmakers, as they must adhere to facts while weaving them together with their artistic potential. Nevertheless, they embellish the film with humor, music, acting, and enchanting shots of nature. Despite these constraints, they successfully create a comfortable environment for the drama to unfold.
“The Postman” / “Il Postino” (1994) is one of those rare instances where the biographical aspect does not suffer from absence of dramatic twists. The script is perfectly constructed, resulting in a successful adaptation of original work.
Communism
The film “The Postman” subtly reveals a restrained aversion to communist ideology. It is unclear whether this sentiment was already present in Antonio Skármeta’s novel, or if it was introduced through the screenplay. Throughout the film, we repeatedly hear sharp and at times even absurd attacks on communism. Communists and their supporters are depicted as savages in the eyes of ordinary people, with ideological motives distorted and exaggerated through sick metaphors.
While this struggle by the authors may distract somewhat from the central plot, it is possible that similar conflicts, in various manifestations, occurred in the real lives of the main characters and were portrayed to provide a clearer understanding of the prevailing mood and environment of the time. Pablo Neruda himself was a communist and was forced to leave his native country. After meeting the poet, the postman follows his example and immerses himself in communist life, which ultimately leads to his downfall.
Music, Sound. Oscar 1996
Film The Postman / Il Postino (1994) won the highest accolade for cinematography in 1996.
Best Music, Original Dramatic Score (Luis Bacalov).
Unfortunately, I couldn’t fully appreciate the musical component due to the poor sound quality and extremely low-quality soundtrack during my viewing. However, I did notice the richness and appeal of the score, making this award seem logical and well-deserved. Movie music is always a clever addition.
Morality
In this film review, I’ve decided to incorporate thoughts on educational context of the film. I must admit that I approach cinema primarily as a source of entertainment, curiosity, and immersion. I naturally focus on the film’s composition and what I can uncover from it. It’s more like an experiment for me.
The search for morality in cinema, in my opinion, is a personal quest that depends on an individual’s willingness to be receptive and open. The words written by others often remain mere words that may not resonate with the experiences of other viewers, but that doesn’t concern me. My mission is simple — to write. And write I shall, sharing what I’ve noticed, what I think, and what I believe is essential.
“Poetry doesn’t belong to those who write it; it belongs to those who need it.” /Mario Ruoppolo/
Let’s delve into movie The Postman / Il Postino (1994) once again. It greets us with modesty, sincerity, and devotion embodied by the character of Mario Ruoppolo, while openness, humanity, and plainness are personified by the poet Pablo Neruda.
The film is simple and straightforward, just like its main characters. They embrace life, strive for their ideals and beliefs, and selflessly give without expecting anything in return. The filmmakers successfully blend the biographical elements with the drama.
“The Postman” / “Il Postino” (1994) leaves a lasting impact, urging viewers to reflect and reassess their own perspectives. Some may find themselves awakened without explicitly identifying with the characters, while others may continue their courageous journey through life with a wistful smile after watching.
Appreciate every moment of life, fearlessly pursue your desires, and stay true to yourself.
Picture The Postman (Il Postino) carries the universal age rating “U,” meaning it is suitable for both adults and children. Such feature offer a clear distinction between good and bad, devoid of violent scenes or moments that could promote negative behavior.
This film is genuinely instructive, tactfully avoiding sharp edges, and providing a calm experience for a wide audience.
A film about a writer
A biographical picture doesn’t require unnecessary reminders of its connection to the author. In this case, the renowned poet plays the lead role, while his comrade and friend share the aspiration to write, forming the foundation of their relationship.
The Postman / Il Postino (1994) vividly and successfully portrays the life of the writer. Fame, popularity, political persecution, creative processes, busyness, carefreeness, and courage—all these components pour out from the screen, convincingly portraying the authenticity of the main characters.
This film also introduced me to the Chilean author, Pablo Neruda. Perhaps one day, I’ll be inspired to explore his works.
It was intriguing to witness him in the movie, even though my connection with poetry is somewhat limited.
“The Postman” / “Il Postino” rightfully secures its honorable place on the list of films about writers.
Interesting Facts
It turns out that Massimo Troisi, the screenwriter, co-director, and actor who portrayed the postman in the film, postponed heart surgery in order to complete filming. Unfortunately, he suffered a fatal heart attack the day after the shoot concluded.
Due to Massimo Troisi’s frail condition, he could only work for about an hour each day. Most of his scenes were captured in just one or two takes. The shooting schedule was carefully designed to accommodate his health needs.
This movie is an adaptation of Antonio Skármeta’s novel «Ardiente Paciencia» (1985). Interestingly, in 1983, the same writer had already made a film on the same subject titled Ardiente paciencia (1983). Furthermore, in 2022, another film based on the novel, Ardiente Paciencia was released.
Conclusions
Despite its moderation and leisurely pace, the film remains captivating and multifaceted.
Its power lies in its simplicity.
Its strength emanates from skill of the actors, one of whom dedicated his final days to doing what he loved on set.
“The Postman” or “Il Postino” (1994) may not be entertaining, and some viewers might find it slow.
However, patient and attentive viewers will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in living, authentic characters, sense the post-war ambiance of Italy, contemplate their own life perspectives, and either reaffirm their path or consider revising it.
The film demands honesty from us and prompts an internal dialogue after watching.
It deserves attention, even though it might not make it onto list of the greatest films.
It is great, but there’s something missing here. Perhaps one day, I’ll want to watch it again, but not alone—with the company of someone else.
Undoubtedly, it ranks among the finest biographical films about a literary figure.
My rating for movie The Postman / Il postino (1994) is 8 out of 10
