About Il Postino: The Postman 1994
Il postino film guide questions
1. What does the photograph of the American postcard represent for Mario?
2. Does Mario's father understand Mario's aversion to fishing? 3. The news film reel's narrator announces the reason for Pablo Neruda's exile. What is this reason?
4. Who will be Mario's only customer? Why is Mario qualified for the job?
5. Is the postmaster sympathetic to Neruda's political beliefs? What evidence does he state?
6. How does Mario act towards Neruda during the first delivery?
7. Characterize the physical attraction between Neruda and Matlide, his wife.
8. What is Mario's motivation for getting Neruda to sign a book of poetry?
9. Pablo is holding an onion. What is the name of his famous poem about an onion? (look it up)
10. Di Cosimo comes to town for votes. What gives you the impression he doesn't belong there?
11. Does Mario initially understand what a metaphor is?
12. Interpret this: "When you explain it, poetry becomes banal. Better than any explanation...is the experience of feelings that poetry can reveal to a nature open enough to understand it."
13. Explain the letter that Neruda receives from Sweden?
14. What does Neruda mean when he says "it is more original to become a postman?"
15. (Interpret) What does Mario teach Neruda about the problem of water?
16. When sitting on the shore, Neruda recites a poem to Mario. How is the poem like the sea?
17. When Mario first meets Beatrice-how does Beatrice entice him to play table football?
18. Why does Neruda say "Dante" when he hears the name of Mario's love?
19. What five words could Mario say to Beatrice?
20. What do you believe is the real reason Neruda refused to write Mario a poem for Beatrice?
21. What is the significance of the journal Neruda gives to Mario as a gift?
22. What is Neruda's reaction to listening to the audio tape from Chile? What were its contents?
23. What is the lesson Neruda teaching through his anecdote about his encounter with the
coalminer? Neruda demonstrate he is a man of
24. In in his helping to woo Beatrice for Mario, how does action?
25. What is Dona Rosa's reaction to metaphor?
26. What is the content of the poem the old woman 27. Dona Rosa's major complain to Neruda is...found in Beatrice's brassier?
28. When Mario responds to Neruda about the theft of his poems to win over Beatrice, how doesMario respond?
29. (Interpret) Di Cosimo, who is running for office, tells Mario, "Remember poets can do a lot of damage to people..."
30. Di Cosimo quotes Gabriele D'Annuzio, the poet. Why is it significant that he identifies with him?
31. Why does the priest object to Neruda being the witness to the wedding?
32. Neruda receives a message during the wedding. What news does he receive?
33. Why does Mario object to the business deals the restaurant makes with DiCosimo?
34. Why is Mario (and others) disappointed in the interview Neruda gives in the Paris newspaper?
35. Why has Mario lost faith in Don Pablo?
36. Does Di Cosimo fulfill his promise to bring water to the Island?
37. What will be Mario's and Beatrice's son's name?
38. What is ironic about Mario recording a letter?
39. Describe the poetry Mario creates with the tape recorder?
40. Describe the details of Mario's death?
