Join us at the Rio Theatre as we get into the Italian Day on the Drive spirit (it’s finally returning to Commercial Drive on Sunday, June 11!) with family-friendly screenings of one of our all-time favourites, CINEMA PARADISO, on Thursday, June 8 with an encore on Sunday, June 11!

Young Salvatore Di Vita (Salvatore Cascio) discovers the perfect escape from life in his war-torn Sicilian village: the Cinema Paradiso movie house, where projectionist Alfredo (Philippe Noiret) instills in the boy a deep love of films. When Salvatore grows up, falls in love with a beautiful local girl (Agnese Nano) and takes over as the Paradiso’s projectionist, Alfredo must convince Salvatore to leave his small town and pursue his passion for filmmaking.

“Still rapturous after all these years, CINEMA PARADISO stands as one of the great films about movie love.” (The Washington Post)

“One of the most delightful and affecting of all movie endings.” (The Daily Mail)

Thursday, June 8
Doors 6:00 pm | Movie 6:30 pm *Please arrive on time. Start time subject to change.
Advance tickets HERE

Sunday, June 11
Doors 2:15 pm | Movie 2:45 pm
Italian Day on the Drive Pricing in Effect Tickets just $8! Advance tickets HERE

CINEMA PARADISO “Nuovo Cinema Paradiso” (Giuseppe Tornatore, 1988 / 124 mins / Italian with English subs) | With sweeping cinematography, gorgeous performances, and a heart-tugging nostalgic storyline about childhood and coming-of-age, CINEMA PARADISO remains one of Italy’s most beloved cinematic exports. Loosely based on writer/director Giuseppe Tornatore’s own life, the story follows a prominent filmmaker recalling the days of his magical boyhood, when he fell in love with movies and formed a deep friendship with the projectionist at his village’s theatre.

*Minors OK. Must be 19+ w/ID for bar service.
*Rio Theatre Groupons and Rio Theatre passes are OK for any single film screening only. Please redeem at the box office.
*Online sales end an hour before showtime; unless otherwise noted, tickets are always available for purchase at the box office prior to showtime. All Rio Theatre tickets are final sale. Our box office is typically open 30 minutes before showtime. All seating is General Admission; please arrive 20-30 minutes prior to showtime to ensure great seats and time for treats.
*If you are looking to redeem either a Rio Theatre gift certificate or Groupon to any regular Rio Theatre screening: You can either email us in advance <[email protected]> and give us a “heads up,” or do it at the box office prior to showtime. (We seat 400+ people and our regular screenings are very rarely at capacity – you should not have issues being admitted.)