Customer Reviews

The Postman (Il Postino): Music From The Miramax Motion Picture Soundtrack (1994 Film)

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Romantic, charming, yet simple and poignant is the main theme from the Postman. As if that weren't beautiful enough, it is also recorded in various arrangements (harpsichord and string, for one, anda guitar and bandoneon versio). All are delightful!

What was also a pleasant surprise was the poetry recitals on the CD (these were not actually in the movie). I found myself repeatedly listening to Morning by Sting and to Poetry by Miranda Richardson. Much of the music is accompanied by the beautiful themes of the movie, too. Perhaps the greatest consequence of the CD was that it led me to Neruda's Poetry (love sonnets, odes). The poetry on the disc is just the surface. Did you know Neruda won the Nobel Prize for his beautiful poetry in 1971?

Musically and poetically, this CD is a must-have.

If you are hunting for passion, romance, and love, then call off the three-headed hounds. Like the goddess Diana, this soundtrack evokes memories of a hunt. Hunt no more.

Pablo Neruda's poetry and Luis Bacalov's music, like lovers, entwine beautifully and magnificently. The two truly become "one." This disc will make your heart skip. It will move you. Further, this soundtrack is like a soul you never have met, but love with your heart.

I rarely gush about anything, much less music. However, I will make an exception with this one.

At risk of sounding pedantic, or worse, didactic, ANYONE, with an ounce of romance, should own this CD.

You will not be disappointed. You will be carried away.

I really, really, really like this music. I'm not sure if I emphasized that enough. This is a beautiful melancholy (and at the same time joyful) and textured mix of regional folk music and modern movie theme aesthetics. It fits perfectly with the gorgeous movie and it's Neruda-inspired romanticism. But it transcends the movie and becomes universal (see new symphonic arrangements appearing on the orchastra scene).

However, I really, really, really don't like the first half of the CD. In fact, I made a copy of the CD without the Readings From The Stars, so it wouldn't distract so. Perhaps this was added by Miramax so it would be more sellable? Would the reading of Neruda's poems be included if they didn't get the stars to read them? I highly doubt it. I'm sure it was Lew Wasserman's (or some other top brass at the studio) idea, who then pulled his strings. And now he smiles every time a Julia Roberts fan finds Il Postino. It's great cross-marketing, and makes for bad art.

This would get 10 stars from me on the strength of Luis Bacalov's stirring music, but I had to do something about all those damn celebrities.

Have you ever listened to a CD that sent you off into blissful place of peaceful solitude? Then you will love the simple, yet astonishingly beautiful songs and poetic lyrics of this haunting soundtrack. Like discovering a quaint village frozen in time, the music and poetry will lift your spirits to a place of magical beauty, where love and romance reign eternal for those fortunate enough to taste its tender fruits.

This CD is truly beautiful. It transported me. I would like to say I first heard it in a bubble bath, with candlelight, sipping champagne...but if the truth be known, I was driving home from dropping my child off at school. What a trip. I felt in love, I felt beautiful, I cried. In our very busy and routine lives, which most of us lead happily, we need to be transported once in awhile to that romantic, wonderful, dream-like state this CD can bring us to. Enjoy.

This c.d. is the perfect mix of beautiful Neruda poetry, read aloud by some of the best actors and actresses of this planet, and the pure, melancholic, romantic music from the movie. Listening to this c.d. makes you lift up from your chair, and fly straight to heaven. Don't miss it, this is what life is all about!

The poetry on this CD is marvellous--I never tire of Glenn Close or Sting reading Neruda's amazingly sensual poems. And the music, poignant and romantic, really hits the spot. I have given this CD to many of my friends.

Certain types of music evoke such powerful images of a specific time and place that the two are married forever; one doesn't exist without the other. The soundtrack to Il Postino is just such a CD. Every time I hear the second half of the disc, I'm reminded of crystal waters, seaside cliffs stippled with whitewashed houses, cobblestone streets, and the promise of a life that is unadorned. Readings of Pablo Neruda's romantic poetry by famous personalities lend a sort of beatnik edge to the soundtrack, but it's the second half that's really magical. Good music makes you forget your troubles, great music transports you. Whether you've seen the film or not, this CD will take you there.

This soundtrack is one of those rare soundtracks that really brings back images of the movie. The songs work well in the film, but also when played on my stereo.

The music on this disc is slow, passionate, happy, sad and romantic; like a great love affair

For those who haven't seen the film: see it first and then buy this disc. For those who have already seen the film: buy this CD straight away. You will find that most of the songs will bring back images of the film: Noiret dancing on his terrace, Troisi on his bicycle trying to climb the mountain etc etc.

As for the spoken word: it works most of the time. Some of the performances are boring (Sting, Julia Roberts), most of them do justice to Neruda's poetry (Ralph Fiennes, Glenn Close).

No five stars because of some of the spoken word bits. Without those, this would have been a glorious five star CD though.

I recently rented the movie Il Postino and fell in love with it! The music, the poetry, the story, all opened my eyes to a whole new interest in the Italian culture. It's wonderful because in addition to the movie soundtrack, the CD has more than 12 poems recited by actors with the music from the movie playing in the background.