The Musicians Muse

Circa October 16, 2015

Concept & Project Description

This image was inspired by the film Cinema Paradiso (1988), by director Giuseppe Tornatore. Cinema Paradiso is a film about a young boy named Salvatore “Toto.” The story takes us through a series of flashbacks of Toto’s life as a child to present day where he is a world famous Italian director living in Rome. We learn about Toto’s family, his best friend who encourages his love for filmmaking, small town life, and of course young love.

To me, this film is endearing and heartfelt. I felt that regardless of whether your dream is to become a filmmaker or not, this story captures the bittersweet pains and pleasures of growing up. Throughout all of its themes, the film repeatedly brings up the concept of cause and effect and how our decisions change our life, for better or for worse. In my opinion, the film is a perfect example of how to illustrate the passage of time and nostalgia for the many things in our youth that we will never get back.

The music of the film was scored by a true Maestro named Ennio Morricone. This was my first encounter with the Maestro, and for the first time in my life I completely understood and felt the power of music in films. Morricone’s song, Love Theme, perfectly encompasses the delicate and bittersweet qualities of childhood, and this image is my visual interpretation of his music.

This image is a composite piece where I took the main chorus of the song, Love Theme, and added in various nostalgic moments that I remember from my childhood.

©AliciaM.BlairPhotography A few of the bigger pieces I used to make the composite.

“Alfredo: Get out of here! Go back to Rome. You’re young and the world is yours. I’m old. I don’t want to hear you talk anymore. I want to hear others talking about you. Don’t come back. Don’t think about us. Don’t look back. Don’t write. Don’t give in to nostalgia. Forget us all. If you do and you come back, don’t come see me. I won’t let you in my house. Understand?
Salvatore: Thank you. For everything you’ve done for me.
Alfredo: Whatever you end up doing, love it. The way you loved the projection booth when you were a little squirt. ”

— http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0038966/quotes

“Alfredo: Living here day by day, you think it’s the center of the world. You believe nothing will ever change. Then you leave: a year, two years. When you come back, everything’s changed. The thread’s broken. What you came to find isn’t there. What was yours is gone. You have to go away for a long time... many years... before you can come back and find your people. The land where you were born. But now, no. It’s not possible. Right now you’re blinder than I am.
Salvatore: Who said that? Gary Cooper? James Stewart? Henry Fonda? Eh?
Alfredo: No, Toto. Nobody said it. This time it’s all me. Life isn’t like in the movies. Life... is much harder. ”

— http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0038966/quotes

Thank you for stopping by!

-Alicia M. Blair