Amman, January 19 – The Italian film Splendor, directed by Ettore Scola, will be screened tomorrow, Monday, at 6:30 PM in the Shoman Foundation’s cinema hall in Jabal Amman, presented by the Foundation’s Cinema Committee. Widely regarded as a rare masterpiece of world cinema, the film celebrates the timeless charm and nostalgia of the seventh art, evoking cherished memories for generations of film lovers.
Released in 1989, Splendor tells the story of a cinema owner who runs a theater specializing in artistic and classic films—a cinema that has recently seen its audiences dwindle and now faces the threat of closure due to changing tastes and the rise of television. As the lights dim in the once-vibrant theater, known for showcasing the works of cinema legends and classic stars, the film evokes moments of nostalgia, reflection, and the timeless charm of cinema, while exploring the social, cultural, and political transformations Italy experienced over the past century.
Scola’s film masterfully blends humor, drama, and cinematic brilliance, capturing the delicate interplay between cinema and reality, historical context, personal conflicts, and ideological debates. Its storytelling is enriched by Scola’s signature style, evident in a strong screenplay, expert direction, striking cinematography in both color and black-and-white, and compelling performances. Among the standout cast are Marcello Mastroianni as the struggling cinema owner, Marina Vlady as his enigmatic wife and cashier, and Massimo Troisi as a projectionist and obsessive cinema lover.
One of the film’s most memorable and poignant sequences depicts the owner’s desperate attempt to attract audiences by staging performances of professional dancers before the main film—an effort that ultimately fails despite initial public enthusiasm, highlighting the challenges faced by a cinema devoted to intellectually rich films.
Splendor is celebrated for Scola’s insightful and humane critique of society, while offering a rich aesthetic and dramatic experience across multiple periods of contemporary Italian history. The film portrays the cinema not merely as a venue, but as a living space of artistic beauty, intimate moments, playful diversions, and ironic surprises, culminating in an ode to the rituals and magic of film.
Ultimately, Splendor stands as a moving audiovisual testament to cinema’s power to capture the essence of life—innocence, loss, heartbreak, love, nostalgia, and passion for the silver screen—and serves as a tribute to old movie theaters and the art of filmmaking itself.
Ettore Scola (1931–2016), born in a small town in southern Italy, began his career as a screenwriter before working as an assistant director under the pioneers of Italian Neorealism. Over his long career, he directed numerous acclaimed films that toured international festivals and won critical acclaim, including A Special Day, Le Bal, The Family, and the Palme d’Or-winning We All Loved Each Other So Much.