It has been a very long time since I was so touched and moved by a film. Even though Il Postino wooed audiences and critics more than a decade ago, I only got to see it in 2007 for the first time. The Italian film is directed by Michael Radford, and based on the novel called El cartero de Neruda written by Antonio Skármeta. The story tells of real-life poet and communist politician Pablo Neruda (played by Philippe Noiret), who is exiled to Italy to escape arrest in his native Chile, where communism has been outlawed. Mario Ruoppolo (Massimo Troisi) and his fisherman father lead a very simple life together in the village. Mario gets a job to deliver Neruda’s mail and like everyone else, he becomes enchanted by Neruda, the poet and the man. They strike up a friendship in which Neruda teaches him about poetry and the magic of words. Mario’s life is turned upside down when he falls in love with a beautiful girl, Beatrice Russo (Maria Grazia Cucinotta). He needs words more than ever now to win over the girl of his dreams.
It is easy to see why Il Postino is so well-known and why it has endured as an artwork. The film deals with universal issues and themes which are timeless and everlasting: the need to belong and be accepted; friendship; the beauty and truth in words; romantic love; and love for the simple things in life. Il Postino as well as Neruda’s poetry appeal to both young and old, rich and poor, erudite and uneducated, because it is plain and simple whilst conjuring up magical moments in life.
Nothing is superfluous in this film. The dialogue is stripped and economical, yet succeeds in capturing the tenderness between Neruda, an intellectual, and Mario, a simple man who happens to appreciate the power of words. It makes one laugh and cry, think and feel, be content with where one is and dream of achieving more. The film made me forget about all of life’s sorrows, and filled me up with the greatest appreciation for being alive, being able to love, and being loved in return. This film affirms the hope that nothing and nobody in life is insignificant.
The acting is heartfelt and unpretentious, restrained and subtle. I was shocked to find out that the actor who plays Mario, Massimo Troisi, died a day after filming ended. He needed a heart transplant and postponed surgery to finish the film. Well, what a legacy to leave behind in the form of this everlasting film.
SPOILER WARNING! DO NOT READ THIS IF YOU HAVE NOT YET SEEN THE FILM! How ironic that Mario dies in the film and Massimo dies in real life. And how heartbreaking as well. Mario’s death can indirectly be attributed to his friendship with Neruda. One can argue that if he had never met Neruda, he never would have gone to that communist rally and never would have died. But one can also argue that if he had never met Neruda, he would never have achieved such self-realisation and he would never have had the courage to win over Beatrice or to try his hand at poetry. If it had been his time to leave this earth, he would never have been able to leave it with such a sense of self-worth and self-satisfaction if he had not met Neruda. His poem is lost in the film, and this is all well and good. It doesn’t matter whether the poem was any good or not, for Mario finally found his own voice. Mario lives on in his son, Pablito. And Massimo lives on through Il Postino. And the real Neruda lives on through his poetry. People perish, but legacies last.
Genre: Comedy / Drama / Romance
Running time: 108 min
Country: Italy / France / Belgium
Language: Italian / Spanish
Director: Michael Radford
Writing credits: Pablo Neruda (poems)
Antonio Skármeta (novel)
Anna Pavignano (screenplay)
Michael Radford (screenplay)
Furio Scarpelli (screenplay)
Giacomo Scarpelli (screenplay)
Massimo Troisi (screenplay)
Producers: Mario Cecchi Gori
Vittorio Cecchi Gori
Gaetano Daniele
Alberto Passone
Cinematographer: Franco Di Giacomo
Editor: Roberto Perpignani
Music: Luis Enríquez Bacalov (original)
Francisco Canaro (non-original) Main Cast:
Mario Ruoppolo – Massimo Troisi
Pablo Neruda – Pilippe Noiret
Beatrice Russo – Maria Grazia Cucinotta
