Poetry is a beautiful form of art showing aesthetic qualities while lining it’s insides with deep meaning. In the film Il Postino: The Postman, Mario Ruoppolo uses his new friend Neruda and some clever poetry to win the heart of the women he loves (Beatrice Russo). Mario was a shy man that didn’t know a thing about rhetoric. His communication skills were that of a six year old and his openness toward women lacking. His first conversation consisted of 5 words, “What is your name? ... Beatrice Russo (whispered)” Luckily, he found a job as a postman and met Neruda - a world famous poet visiting the island.
Neruda’s knowledge of poetry and willingness to help someone in need helped create a man that was more than capable to win over Beatrice. Neruda taught Mario how use rhetoric to express his love through poetry without treating the lower-class citizen with disrespect. He shared his gift of verse and Mario fell in love with poetry as fast as he did with Beatrice.
“Your smile spreads like a butterfly across your face” is the first verse Mario used to show his affection toward Beatrice. Having never heard poetry before, Beatrice found it quite flattering. As time passed, his relationship with Beatrice intensified. He started writing poems like, “Naked…you are as simple as one of your hands, smooth, terrestrial, tiny…” Mario learned to change his poetry as his relationship with his loved one changed. He adapted to his audience.
I loved how throughout the movie, although his lessons from Neruda had stopped, his love for poetry grew along with his knowledge, skill, and rhetoric. He dedicated his time to something he loved and because of it he got the women he loved and the chance to share his work in front of thousands of people. We can do the same with anything in our lives; whether it be sport, writing, talent. If you love it enough, and work hard, you can achieve anything. “Try a little harder, to be a little better” – Gordon B. Hinckley
That is so true. We are constantly using rhetoric to win over our crushes. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. But I liked the idea. One suggestion would be to apply the title to the blog a little better. Maybe you could put a little more commentary on how rhetoric really does lead to romance. I feel the conclusion was good, but not on topic with the title.
ReplyDeleteI like this review. What did you think of the ending? I thought it was quite selfish and made me lose the respect I had for him after he had been striving to develop his talent of writing. It is interesting how his love progresses with his knowledge of the use of words. I thought it was a good movie but the ending really made me irked.
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