As part of Italian Heritage Month in Vancouver and in celebration of Italian Day on the Drive (Sunday, June 9), the Rio Theatre is highlighting select Italian titles in June - including our annual tradition of screening director Giuseppe Tornatore's nostalgic and wistful Oscar-winner CINEMA PARADISO on Thursday, June 20. Even better? We're double-billing it with the director's

Young Salvatore Di Vita (Salvatore Cascio) discovers the perfect escape from life in his war-torn Sicilian village: the CINEMA PARADISO movie house, where projectionist Alfredo (Philippe Noiret) instills in the boy a deep love of films. When Salvatore grows up, falls in love with a beautiful local girl (Agnese Nano) and takes over as the Paradiso's projectionist, Alfredo must convince Salvatore to leave his small town and pursue his passion for filmmaking.

"Still rapturous after all these years, CINEMA PARADISO stands as one of the great films about movie love." (The Washington Post)

"One of the most delightful and affecting of all movie endings." (The Daily Mail)

Presented by Rio Theatre and the Italian Contemporary Film Festival, in partnership with the Consulate General of Italy in Vancouver and Fare Cinema 2019, and with the generous support of Il Centro – Italian Cultural Centre in Vancouver.

Thursday, June 20
Doors 5:45 pm | Film 6:15 pm

Advance tickets $10.50 | $12.50 at the door

*Minors permitted in the balcony. Must be 19+ w/ID for bar service and main floor seating.
*Rio Theatre Groupons and passes OK for any single film screening only. Please redeem at the box office

CINEMA PARADISO “Nuovo Cinema Paradiso” (Giuseppe Tornatore, 1988 / 155 mins / Italian with English subs) | With sweeping cinematography, gorgeous performances, and a heart-tugging nostalgic storyline about childhood and coming-of-age, CINEMA PARADISO remains one of Italy’s most beloved cinematic exports. Loosely based on writer/director Giuseppe Tornatore’s own life, the story follows a prominent filmmaker recalling the days of his magical boyhood, when he fell in love with movies and formed a deep friendship with the projectionist at his village’s theatre.