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69 of 69 found the following review helpful:
 Charming and poignantSep 26, 2003
By Debbie Lee Wesselmann
I absolutely adore this film, a touching story of the relationship between an timid but passionate postal carrier and the Nobel Prize-winning poet Pablo Neruda. As Neruda and his poetry instruct the mailman in the ways of love, a courtship blossoms that has all the humor and bittersweet missteps of the real thing. Director Radford uses a light touch to illuminate the unusual relationship between the exiled poet and an ordinary man. Massimo Troisi as Mario (the postman) turns in a fine performance that should not be missed; his characterization of a clueless man desperately in love with both words and a woman cannot be forgotten. Likewise, Philippe Noiret as Neruda provides a memorable portrait of a man who can forget the power of his words.I can't help comparing "Il Postino" to "Life is Beautiful", also an Italian film that relies on initial humor to set up the pain found in the human heart. "Il Postino" is more subtle, however, and more realistic. Still, those who enjoyed "Life is Beautiful" should also like "Il Postino." I recommend this film highly. You don't need to know anything about Neruda to enjoy it; all you need to be is human.
31 of 31 found the following review helpful:
Il Postino is an Excellent MovieDec 17, 1999
By Laura Roth
Il Postino is a wonderful and heartwarming adaptation of Antonio Skarmenta's novel, El cartero de Neruda, which is not likely to disappoint audiences who are prepared to watch a foreign film with sub-titles. The movie is certainly not a tear-jerker, but any viewer will find themselves becoming emotionally attached to its characters and highly affected by the fate which befalls them. The film, directed by Michael Radford, is the story of a humble Italian postman who is greatly changed by the famous Chilean poet, Pablo Neruda for whom he works for in a small Italian village. As the audience, we observe their acqaintanceship as it changes and eventually develops into a true and unforgettable friendship. Without a doubt, some audiences will find Il Postino tedious because of the simple plot and the lack of sex and violence. Nevertheless, it is an an emotional and powerful movie that I highly recommend because of its strong character portrayal. In my opinion, Il Postino is truly successful because of its wonderful acting by Massimo Troisi, who accurately portrays the innocent postman as well as Philippe Noiret, who is a very endearing and astonishing Pablo Neruda. In addition to the acting, the Italian landscape is a breathtaking and integral part of Il Postino. Radford effectively incorporates the beautiful mountains and seascape as the story's background. It is a refreshing decision by Radford which only adds to the poetry which Noiret recites periodically throughout the film. I am certainly the type of person who prefers the book to the movie, but in this particular case, I feel that the movie surpasses the Skarmenta's novel by far. I recommend this movie to anyone who is tired of movies with gratuitous sex and violence as well as hackneyed forumlas. The sub-titles are by no means a hinderance to the film and I guarentee by its end that you will be fascinated by the Italian language.
23 of 23 found the following review helpful:
What an Amazing Movie!Mar 08, 2000
By Simon Mohammad
I first came across Il Postino whilst watching the British equivalent of the Oscars, the BAFTA's, when I believe it won Best Foreign Film. Following that show I rented it from my local Blockbuster, what followed was something I will never forget. A film with such grace, elegance and passion I was sincerely moved. The scenery which is complemented by a wonderful soundtrack shows how movies can capture the hearts and minds of everyone. Telling the story of Mario Ruopollo a poor son of a fisherman, Il Postino charts the months following the arrival of exiled Chilean poet Pablo Neruda to the small Italian island where Mario lives and how the poet of love helps Mario win the heart of latest Bond Girl Maria Grazia Cucinotta. A story of love and friendship that will surely capture the viewers heart and stay with them forever!
25 of 26 found the following review helpful:
 il postino incomplete on amazon.comFeb 15, 2000
By Douglas Taylor
This charming story has been harmed with the omission of the most sensual scene, between the postman and the lady he loves, when she is playing on the soccer game with him in the bar. In the original film she uses the ball as bait, rolling it enticingly between her breasts and completing the captivation of her ardent admirer. This little bit of interplay has been cut out almost entirely, definitely damaging the impact of the film. I would not have purchased it knowing of this in advance. It is amazing that a little sensual interaction is not acceptable in a world where violent death is. This is a four star movie that has been cheapened by "cleaning it up."
23 of 25 found the following review helpful:
A gentle, yet passionate filmJan 27, 2001
By Michael J. Mazza
"Il Postino" ("The Postman") tells the story of the friendship between Chilean poet Pablo Neruda and the shy postman who delivers his mail while Neruda is living in Italy. This Italian film, directed by Michael Radford, is a beautiful and gentle work of art that celebrates love, friendship, and the power of poetry. The performances are outstanding. Massimo Troisi brings an awkward charm to his role as the postman, Mario, and Phillipe Noiret is both majestic and appealingly down-to-earth as the revered poet. The supporting players are also superb, but it is the chemistry between Troisi and Noiret that really brings magic to the film. The dialogue of "Il Postino" thoughtfully explores such issues as fame, political commitment, and the art of poetry. I especially love the line, "Poetry doesn't belong to those who wrote it, but to those who need it." But this is also a wonderfully funny film. Some of the scenes gave me some hearty belly laughs! The romance between postman Mario and a local girl is a particularly rich source of comic material. If you are one of the millions who love the passionate poetry of Pablo Neruda, you should really see this film. And if you see the film before having read Neruda's work, I recommend that you read some of Neruda's poetry. To sum up, I highly recommend "Il Postino."
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