Il postino
"Dreams do come true."
The Postman - Movie Quotes
Memorable Quotes
La poesia non è di chi la scrive, è di chi gli serve!
— Mario Ruoppolo
Context:
Mario says this to Pablo Neruda when defending his use of the poet's verses to woo Beatrice. He argues that the need for the words makes them his own in that moment, a sentiment that Neruda ultimately understands and accepts.
Meaning:
Translated as "Poetry doesn't belong to those who write it; it belongs to those who need it." This is the philosophical core of the film. It's Mario's justification for 'borrowing' Neruda's poems, but it also expresses the universal truth that art's true value lies in its ability to connect with and serve the emotional needs of its audience.
Quando la spieghi la poesia diventa banale.
— Pablo Neruda
Context:
Neruda says this to Mario early in their friendship when Mario is struggling to understand a poem. Neruda suggests that the experience of the poem is more important than a technical analysis, encouraging Mario to feel the art rather than just analyze it.
Meaning:
Translated as "When you explain poetry, it becomes banal." Neruda expresses the idea that the power of poetry lies in its ability to evoke feelings and experiences directly, rather than being intellectually dissected. Its magic is in the feeling it creates, not in its literal explanation.
Il tuo sorriso si espande come una farfalla.
— Mario Ruoppolo
Context:
This is a line from a poem Mario composes for Beatrice, using the lessons he has learned from Neruda. It is a key moment in his courtship, demonstrating his own developing voice and winning her affection.
Meaning:
Translated as "Your smile spreads like a butterfly." This is one of the simple, yet beautiful, metaphors Mario uses to describe Beatrice's smile. It exemplifies his burgeoning poetic sensibility and his ability to see the world in a new, more lyrical way.
Le parole sono la cosa peggiore che ci sia.
— Donna Rosa (Beatrice's Aunt)
Context:
Donna Rosa angrily says this after discovering Mario's poetic love notes to Beatrice. She confronts Neruda, blaming him for filling Mario's head with sensual metaphors that she believes have corrupted her niece.
Meaning:
Translated as "Words are the worst things ever." Coming from Beatrice's pragmatic aunt, this line represents a cynical worldview that is diametrically opposed to the film's celebration of poetry. She sees words, especially poetic ones, as tools of seduction and deception, devoid of genuine substance.