Inspired by an incident in Pablo Neruda's life, the Nobel Prize winner, played by Philipe Noiret (Cinema Paradiso). The engaging blend of easy humour and sunny romance takes hold from the start and never lets go. Much of its seductive charm derives from the excellence of the leads: Noiret does his gruff but malleable turn to perfection, while Troisi (Italy’s legendary comic actor, who died as the film finished) exudes a simplicity of heart, mind and soul that never seems excessively sentimental. Mercifully, director Michael Radford (1984, White Mischief, Merchant of Venice) avoids making the small peasant community too glamorously Arcadian. Old-fashioned it may be, but it knocks the spots off pap like Cinema Paradiso. Extras: Brand new interview with Director Michael Radford TBA: will include new Extras on the making of