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Cult Review
Senior Film Conservator
If you like movies where people run around in expensive suits looking stressed, then yes. If you hate movies from the 30s where everything feels like a stage play, you'll probably want to skip it.
Honestly, it’s a good one to put on if you want something light. It doesn't ask much of you.
The whole plot is about this guy, played by Nino Besozzi, who gets a house from his uncle. But the uncle was a bit of a weirdo and put these crazy rules in the will.
The nephew has to live there for three years without leaving. And he can't have any young women over.
It's basically a 1932 version of a reality show challenge. I kept thinking about how bored he would get without the internet.
Nino Besozzi is great because he has this face that looks like it's constantly vibrating. He does this thing with his eyebrows when he's nervous that made me laugh every time.
The house itself is a character. It's one of those "Telefoni bianchi" movies, which means everything is super white and clean.
The floors are so shiny I was worried the actors were going to slip. It looks way more expensive than the sets in The Family Closet.
There is this one scene where a girl almost walks in and the way the butler panics is just... gold. He moves his arms like a literal windmill.
I noticed that Turi Pandinolfi has a very specific way of holding his hat. He clutches it to his chest like it's a small dog or something.
It’s a tiny detail but once you see it, you can't stop looking at it. I wonder if that was in the script or if he just really liked his hat.
The writing is by Alessandro De Stefani and Luigi Bonelli. They clearly knew how to write a joke that lands, even if some of the humor feels a bit dated now.
The pacing gets a little slow in the middle. There's about ten minutes where they just talk about the legal stuff and I definitely checked my phone.
It reminds me a bit of the slow parts in Money Magic. Just a lot of people sitting in chairs and looking serious about money.
But then a girl shows up and the movie gets fast again. The way they try to hide her is classic farce stuff.
It’s not trying to be deep. It’s just trying to be funny, and mostly, it works. 🤠
I should of mentioned the music. It’s very jaunty and loud, sometimes too loud.
There's a scene where the music swells up so much you can barely hear what the actors are saying. It’s a bit annoying but it adds to the chaos, I guess.
The supporting cast is okay, but they all sort of blend together after a while. Except for the guy who plays the lawyer; he has a very funny mustache.
It’s definitely a different vibe than something like Le coupable. It doesn't want to make you sad.
The ending is pretty predictable. You can see it coming from a mile away, but that’s not really a bad thing for a movie like this.
Sometimes you just want to see a guy get the girl and the money. Even if he has to break a few rules to do it.
I liked how they used the space in the house. The way the cameras move through the rooms feels quite modern for 1932.
It’s a lot less stiff than The Men Women Love. It actually feels like people are living in the space.
One thing that bugged me was the lighting in the kitchen scene. It’s so bright you can’t see the details on the plates.
But maybe they wanted it to look heavenly because of the title? Or maybe they just had too many lamps.
Overall, Paradiso is a fun little relic. It’s a bit messy and the middle drags, but it’s got a lot of heart.
I'd watch it again if I was stuck inside for three years. Or maybe just once is enough. 🏠
IMDb —
1927
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