Cinema Paradiso 1988

The filmmaker of this movie has decided the main character - Toto to recall his past. The movie allows its audience to see the movie from Toto's perspective, where the movie led the audience to be in the present and then flashback to the past. At the beginning, the audience does not know what is going on that led Toto to look bothered while lying on his bed, after receiving a news from his mother. This has created a sense of suspense and curiosity to the audience. Curiosity is a great motivator for us to explore the unknown (Ruan, 2016), and being able to find out the uncertainty in the beginning often will result in a pleasurable sensation. From a cognitive psychology perspective, this movie has started off in an interesting way to capture and secure audience's attention to watch the movie.

The movie has allowed audience to get to know main character Toto from his young age until present, which is a thorough understanding of a person. Being able immerse and attach deeply with a character will cause audience to have an emotional bond with the character. Therefore, audience tend to empathize deeply with Toto when his mentor - Alfredo passed away as if the audience's relative has passed away. This scene made me shed tears as if I have lost someone dearly to me.

The message that me as an audience received from the director is the preciousness of a relationship. Through this, it struck me that close friendship does not form among peers with same age. As portrayed in this movie, even though Toto is a young boy and Alfredo is an old man, Toto and Alfredo are best buddies who support one another whenever anyone of them encounters problem. For example, Alfredo saved Toto from his mother's scoldings and helped him towards his passion and interest as a projectionist; whereas Toto saved Alfredo's life from the fire that happened in the cinema. Even after the incident which caused Alfredo to lost his eyesight, Toto did not abandon him, instead he described pictures and films to Alfredo as if he is the new 'eye' to Alfred. Indeed, Alfredo did regain his new 'eye' through this precious friendship with Toto. At the end, as much as Alfredo treasure and needed Toto, he did not tie him down by his side. Alfredo thinks the best for his best friend and is generous enough to let go of his 'eye', and to allow his 'eye' - Toto to pursue his goal in a brighter path.

References:
Ruan, B. (2016). Curiosity Leads Us to Seek Out Unpleasant, Even Painful, Outcomes. Retrieved from http://www.psychologicalscience.org/news/releases/curiosity-leads-us-to-seek-out-unpleasant-even-painful-outcomes.html#.WH7VNPl942w