Il Postino: The Postman
Movie Details:
| Italian title | Il postino |
| Also known as | The Postman |
| Based on | Ardiente paciencia by Antonio Skármeta |
| Country | Italy, France, Belgium |
| Language | Italian, Spanish |
| Genres | Biography, Comedy, Drama, Romance |
| Release date | 1 September 1994 (VFF) 22 September 1994 (Italy) 16 June 1995 (USA) |
| Running time | 1hr 48min |
| Age rating | PG |
| Starring | Massimo Troisi Philippe Noiret Maria Grazia Cucinotta |
| Directed by | Michael Radford |
| Screenplay by | Anna Pavignano Michael Radford Furio Scarpelli Giacomo Scarpelli Massimo Troisi |
| Story by | Furio Scarpelli Giacomo Scarpelli |
| Produced by | Mario Cecchi Gori Vittorio Cecchi Gori Gaetano Daniele |
| Cinematography by | Franco Di Giacomo |
| Edited by | Roberto Perpignani |
| Music by | Luis Enríquez Bacalov |
| Production Company | Cecchi Gori Group Tiger Cinematografica Penta Film Esterno Mediterraneo Film Blue Dahlia Productions K2 Two Le Studio Canal+ |
| Distributor | Variety Distribution Cecchi Gori Distribuzione Penta Film Distribuzione (Italy) Miramax International (Select territories; through Buena Vista International) |
Cast & Characters:
- Massimo Troisi as Mario Ruoppolo
- Philippe Noiret as Pablo Neruda
- Maria Grazia Cucinotta as Beatrice Russo
- Renato Scarpa as The Telegrapher
- Linda Moretti as Donna Rosa
- Mariano Rigillo as Di Cosimo
- Anna Bonaiuto as Matilde Urrutia
- Simona Caparrini as Elsa Morante
- Michael Diana as Pablito
- Sergio Solli as Peasant
Storyline:
Pablo Neruda, the famous Chilean poet, is exiled to a small island for political reasons. On the island, the unemployed son of a poor fisherman is hired as an extra postman due to the huge increase in mail that this causes. Il Postino is to hand-deliver the celebrity’s mail to him. Though poorly educated, the postman learns to love poetry and eventually befriends Neruda. Struggling to grow and express himself more fully, he suddenly falls in love and needs Neruda’s help and guidance more than ever.
About Movie:
Il Postino: The Postman (Italian: Il postino) is a 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 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 is set and was filmed on the island of Procida, gulf of Naples; some additional filming took place on Salina, one of the volcanic Aeolian Islands that form an archipelago off the northern coast of Sicily. Corricella is the setting for some of the waterfront scenes in the movie. Filming took 11 weeks, with only one break for the Easter holiday.
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.
Budget & Box Office Collection:
| Budget | $3 million |
| Worldwide Collection | $33 million |