In a small town in southern Italy, the quirky little boy Toto (Savateli Cascio) likes to watch movies, and he likes to watch the projectionist Alfredo (Filippo Novare) show movies even more. He and Alfredo became close friends and found the joy of childhood life in the film. In order to let more audiences see the movie, the kind-hearted Alfredo organized an open-air movie, but the film caught fire. Toto rescued Alfredo from the fire, but Alfredo was blind. Toto became the only person in the town who could show movies, and he replaced Alfredo as the town's film projectionist. Toto (Mark Leonardi) grew up and fell in love with the banker's daughter Elena (Agnes Nano). The pure feelings of first love are as beautiful as heaven, but the vows of love between a pair of young lovers were blocked by Elena's father. Toto went to serve in the army, while Elena went to college. Encouraged by Alfredo, the sad Toto left the town to pursue his dream in life... 30 years later, Alfredo passed away. At this time, Toto had become a successful director. He returned to his hometown and saw the dilapidated Cinema Paradiso. He recalled the past and sighed.