"NUOVO CINEMA PARADISO" (ニュー・シネマ・パラダイス), Japanese Theatrical Poster “3-Hour Complete Original Version”, 1991, Scarce B1 Oversize, c. 72.8 × 103 cm (28.7 × 40.6 in)
This is an original Japanese B1 theatrical poster printed for the Japanese release campaign of Nuovo Cinema Paradiso / ニュー・シネマ・パラダイス in its 〈3時間完全オリジナル版〉 / Three-Hour Complete Original Version.
A scarce oversized Japanese poster for Giuseppe Tornatore’s beloved Italian-French cinema classic. This is the rare B1 format, measuring approximately 72.8 × 103 cm, and is substantially larger than the standard Japanese B2 theatrical poster.
The design is warm, nostalgic, and highly evocative. The composition combines the celebrated bicycle image, a romantic still, the original Italian title NUOVO CINEMA Paradiso, the bold red Japanese title ニュー・シネマ・パラダイス, and the prominent subtitle 〈3時間完全オリジナル版〉, identifying this as the Japanese campaign for the extended complete version.
The upper campaign line reads:
トトが忘れられなかったもうひとつの物語。
“Another story Totò could never forget.”
The poster also prominently highlights the film’s major international awards, including the 1989 Cannes Jury’s Special Grand Prix and the 1990 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. The lower credits include Giuseppe Tornatore, Ennio Morricone, Blasco Giurato, and the Japanese distributors Herald Ace / Nippon Herald Film.
A printed Japanese message attributed to Tornatore appears within the design, accompanied by a facsimile-style signature. This is part of the printed poster artwork and should not be confused with a hand-signed autograph.
About the film
Written and directed by Giuseppe Tornatore, Cinema Paradiso is one of the defining European films of the late 1980s: a deeply affectionate meditation on childhood, memory, mentorship, lost love, and the communal experience of cinema.
Set in a small Sicilian town, the film follows Salvatore, known as Totò, whose childhood friendship with the local projectionist becomes the emotional foundation of his life and artistic imagination.
The cast includes Philippe Noiret, Jacques Perrin, Salvatore Cascio, Marco Leonardi, Agnese Nano, and Antonella Attili.
Design notes
This poster is an elegant example of Japanese prestige-film advertising.
The bicycle image gives the design its emotional centre, while the romantic still introduces the expanded adult and romantic dimensions of the longer cut. The cream-toned background, red Japanese title, Italian title treatment, and awards text create a refined, highly displayable composition.
The campaign line frames the poster around memory and longing, which perfectly suits the complete-version release. The inclusion of Tornatore’s printed message gives the piece an unusually personal quality for a theatrical poster, while the distributor marks, credits, and Eirin approval details reinforce its status as an original Japanese cinema poster.
The Japanese B1 format
The Japanese B1 format is much harder to find than the standard B2 size. B1 posters were used for larger cinema displays and were produced, handled, stored, and preserved in significantly smaller numbers.
For a title as culturally cherished as Cinema Paradiso, the combination of Japanese theatrical release status, oversized B1 format, complete original version campaign, Cannes / Oscar award references, and enduring cinema-about-cinema subject matter makes this a particularly desirable piece of international film paper.
This is an impressive display piece for collectors of Italian cinema, Japanese theatrical posters, Ennio Morricone, Cannes and Academy Award-winning films, and works celebrating the history and romance of moviegoing itself.
Condition report
This poster is in Very Good / Excellent condition overall and presents very strongly from the front.
Authenticity: Original Japanese B1 theatrical poster for the 3-hour complete original version — not a reproduction or modern reprint.
Documentation: Certificate of Authenticity included.
It is over 35 years old.
