Il Postino

Michael Radford, director
Based on the novel Ardiente Paciencia by Antonio Skármeta
Story by Furio Scarpelli and Giacomo Scarpelli
Screenplay by Anna Pavignano, Michael Radford, Furio Scarpelli, Giacomo Scarpelli, and Massimo Troisi.

Plot Summary

Mario is the mailman on a small Italian island in the 1950s. He delivers the mail to the newest residents of the village, Pablo Neruda and his wife, who are living there because they've been exiled from Chile.

Mario begins to read Neruda's poetry, and the two develop a deep friendship. The simple, tongue-tied Mario pairs well with the world-famous, silver-tongued Neruda. Neruda's influence helps Mario overcome his shyness and express his love for Beatrice, and the two decide to marry, with Neruda as the best man.

At the wedding Neruda receives a letter and reads that he may now return to Chile. He leaves the island shortly after this with his wife. Meanwhile Beatrice becomes pregnant with Pablito, named in honor of Neruda. Mario follows all the details of Neruda's life in Chile from the newspapers. Neruda finally writes to Mario, but it is only to ask for him to send the remainder of Neruda's belongings, which he left on the island. Mario decides to make a tape for Neruda, containing all the beautiful sounds of the island. He does so, but does not send it to Neruda.

Shortly after this, Neruda returns to the island with his wife. He meets Mario's child Pablito, and he learns from Beatrice that Mario is dead. Mario was killed by the police while he was preparing to read a poem he had written in honor of Neruda at a Communist rally. Beatrice and Neruda listen to the tape which Mario made, and we realize that Mario himself was also a true poet.