Splendor

I first saw this film at Cannes, which Festival I had regularly visited as the Director of a cultural cinema for several years. I saw it in the Grande Auditorium Lumiere, and, sitting next to me was my secretary. When the film ended, we just sat there and wept. If anyone wants to know what it is like to operate a cinema that seeks to present the cinema as an art, this is it - warts & all! Mastroiani is fabulous as the put upon owner of the cinema. Marina Vlady is enigmatic and voluptuous as his wife and cashier. Massimo Troisi is also superb as the obsessive projectionist.

What this film is about is the glory of the cinema and the fickleness of the public.

When I retired from my cinema, after 35 years, I showed this as my farewell film. We had almost a full house, and there was barely a dry eye in sight.