It’s a word that can stir us to our core.  Passion is something that can not only drive our lives, but give it such meaning and purpose that we feel we simply would not…could not…be complete without it.

Often, movies inspire us to bigger and better things – not because of their box office totals or the stars that grace the cast, but because when we see people on the big screen living a life in passion, we often want to emulate that.  We admire it.  We cherish it in others, and in ourselves.

So, last night, when someone I know asked if I wanted to join them in a screening of Giuseppe Tornatore’s Cinema Paradiso (1990-USA release), well, I said…Sure!

After all, I hear it’s the signature movie of the Palm Springs International Film Festival, which I try to faithfully attend.  And it is a movie for movie lovers.  So, what could go wrong?  I already knew the basic premise:  A mid-20^th century Sicilian boy is captivated at an early age with the projection booth in his local cinema, and his life unfolds around his relationship to the cinema’s projector, and its people.

Genius.

And, for the most part, it is.

When we opened the package, I noticed there were two versions…the original release and the director’s cut.  Since I had not seen it before, I lobbied for the DC.  My viewing mates had already seen the original, so it was unanimous.  I plucked the new cut from the box and away we went.

Right from the off, I was completely captivated with Cinema Paradiso’s awesome simplicity.  When we first meet our passionate protagonist, Salvatore (the impeccable Salvatore Cascio), he is simply a troublemaking imp under the shoe of his mother (Antonella Attili), his priest (Leopolt Trieste), and his projectionist father-figure Alfredo (Philippe Noiret).  Salvatore is young alright, but he’s old enough to know what really matters in the movies he loves!

As the days pass in the life of Salvatore, so much of life is projected not only onto the screen of the small theater, but also through its aisles, as the children, men, and women of the small town come of age under the watchful gaze of film.  What is so striking is that in 1940s Italy, the rest of the world might as well not exist for little Salvatore, for he learns to live, love, and laugh, even as he runs the projector in his local Cinema.

But times change and the winds of history blow inevitability into life, and as Salvatore pursues the dreams in his own real-life drama, I was quite swept away in his story, simple as it is.  After all, one sees that his investment in movies is so great that we just have to see the payoff.  However, I found myself having difficulty connecting with certain scenes.  As I had never seen the theater release, I didn’t know which scenes were inserted, however, I shared my discomfort with my friends who indicated to me that yes, one of the story-line progressions had indeed been added in the DC.

I already knew the ending.  I couldn’t wait for it.

But the intervening, seemingly-endless minutes of added footage seemed to sap the movie of much of its emotion.  My fellow viewers agreed.  Unfortunately, unlike them, I will never be able to see the movie ‘for the first time’ without knowing about the added scenes, and I feel that somehow, when I do watch the full version, it will be diminished.

All I can say is that spaced around what feels like an egotistical choice on the part of the director, there is a movie full of place, people, love, and, yes, passion.

If you haven’t seen Cinema Paradiso, you’ll have to make the choice whether to view the DC version or not.  That is up to you.

But what you will not get to choose is your emotion.  If you are not swept away by Salvatore’s journey in this truly touching film, then perhaps you need more passion in your own life.

If you do?

Well, then go see a movie today.

-josh

The film festival was amazing.  It always is.  We saw many of our old friends who go on that same 10-day journey through the Palm Springs movie theaters.  There is a definite religious/ritualistic approach to the who thing.  Stand in line 60-90 minutes early, get your numbered ticket, get into the theater and sit in your favorite seat, plan your next movie, strike up 30 minute friendships with complete strangers and ask them what they’ve seen, make a film grid for yourself and then spend your days erasing, changing, and moving around, and sit over dinner and interpret, interpret, interpret.  A film festival is not just about seeing movies.  It’s about seeing ourselves reflected in thousands of miles of film.

I have a friend who says she loves the festival because she can “see the world in a week.” And she’s right.  We visited a sumo training camp in Israel in A Matter of Size, hit a ranch in rural Australia in Beautiful Kate, tried to swin the English Channel in Welcome, and traveled New Zealand with the Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls.

And, it’s inspiring.  You sit through some of these works and you feel alive…motivated…like you could take on the world.

All you have to do is sit through a screening of Norway’s Max Manus, and you will want to fight to change the world!  And, even if you can’t find a place in your life for espionage, you realize what an amazing difference one motivated person can make.  Or, you can laugh your way through USA’s Artois the Goat, and marvel at what some kids can do with a $50,000 budget.  The almost-oppressive silence of Australia’s Samson and Delilah is a powerful reminder that our lives run amok in subtext, and that what is really important, need not be spoken.

Film reminds us that whether we believe our lives are in our control or out of control, we’re right.  We laugh with the irresponsibly lovestruck characters in Mediterranean Food or shake our heads at the injustices of life in Berlin ‘36, and wonder if we’ve loved enough or fought enough.

If we look deep enough into each person, we can find a story, and there is most certainly a director willing to take up the challenge of telling even the most seemingly-trivial details of a life.  Don’t believe me?  Play chess with a chamber maid in Queen to Play and think about if you’ve paid enough attention to your hobbies.  Can they become your passions?

Anyway, I’m home now.  But, like each January, I’m different somehow.  I’ve seen more, heard more, made new friends, and expanded my mind in new directions.  I’ve had a common experience with hundreds…thousands of others, from the ticket lines to the script lines.

And I absolutely cannot wait until next year’s journey.

I better get my passport ready.

-josh

Your Twitter stream could not be collected. Normally this is caused by no XML feed being returned. Why this happens is still unclear.

Now, I have to say, that sounds kind of…sketchy.  Who wants to collect my Twitter stream?  Can they say that?  Can they do that?  I mean, no one told me my Twitter was going to be tested today.  Can I have a few minutes to prepare?

That’s ok.  We’re Tweeting anyway, whether or not it can be collected.

You heard right.  Tweeting.  Or, maybe it’s Twittering.  Who the heck knows?  Maybe it should be Tweetering…

Now, I expect to see this garner both glee and groan, but we’re in, and you know?  It’s actually pretty cool.

So, here’s why I’m posting this now…I am actually going to be attending the Palm Springs International Film Festival from January 8-17 and will be Tweeting from there.  I’ll be talking about the latest movies and goings on, and I want this to kick off our Twitter campaign.

It’s easy!  Just find Orumai on Twitter and help us build the list!

At Orumai, we’re building an online community, and this is another way we can do that.  So, if you don’t have a Twitter account, create one and join us.  If you do, follow Orumai today.

We look forward to seeing you and, er…Tweetering you.

Can I say that on here?  Is that ok to say?

-josh