Il Postino

Il Postino is an almost perfect gem that glows rather than shines, and draws out your heart. From the opening scene behind the credits, where a small boat flutters in the island's little fishing harbor against rosy reflected light from the dying day, the soothing mood cradles you in its soft paws and denies release while the cinematography spreads a soft amber across the screen, enhancing the mood. Neruda, an aging poet and communist, escapes from his native Chile to an arranged exile on a small Italian island. There, with a much younger companion, he does beautiful tangos on the patio and waits daily for mail from the outside world. His bicycling postman, Mario is new to the job. Behind his quiet slow-spoken manner, Mario's a cut above

naked, you are slender as a naked grain of wheat.

Mario knew this poem represented what he felt for Beatrice, and this is why he decided to recite this poem for her. “You are simple as one of your hands, smooth, earthy, small, transparent, round.” Mario is telling Beatrice that she is simple, yet adorable and attractive. “You are spacious and yellow as summer in a golden church.” Mario reinforces his feelings for Beatrice by letting her know that she is welcome in his life at any time. Mario tells Beatrice like the nights of Cuba, she is always there, glistening with beauty and warmth.

you have vines and stars in your hair;

Image metaphors are a symbolic part of the film because not only do they show the audience the metaphor but also it represents the emotional side of the metaphor. The foosball in the film is used as a metaphor. When Mario and Beatrice are in the bar and Beatrice motions to him to play a game of foosball, it was love at first site. There was no talking during this scene, a well-planned scene from the director. This lets us view the scene and take it for what its for and what it represents. When Mario and Beatrice begin the game of foosball, Beatrice keeps scoring on him. Mario was fixated on her so much that he was not paying attention to the game at hand. Mario was very nervous around her and he spills his change on the floor while trying to pay for another game of foosball. When he looks up he sees that Beatrice has the foosball in her mouth. This part of the movie is one of the more dear parts of the film. The foosball is a continuing image metaphor throughout the film. Another image metaphor is the white piece of paper falling to the ground as the riot breaks out and Mario is killed. This symbolizes all of what Mario wanted in life, Beatrice, writing, poems, and most of all love.

Some topics in this essay:
Mario Beatrice, Il Postino, Neruda Mario, Mario Neruda's, Mario Neruda, Pablo Neruda, Neruda Neruda, Ruoppolo Metaphors, Beatrice Chile, Beatrice Image, throughout film, game foosball, il postino, film il, film il postino, mario beatrice, simple hands smooth, metaphor mario, yellow summer, spacious yellow, summer golden, golden church”, mario telling beatrice, image conversational poetic, hands smooth earthy,