Average Rating: 
Rating:  - The Beauty of Life
In "Life is Beautiful" Roberto Benigni has made a warm and romantic film filled with the joy of living. There are happy and magical moments scattered throughout this Italian masterpiece, but it is Benigni's handling of the holocaust that gives this film substance.You often hear this foreign film described as powerful and moving but upon viewing it for the first time you may wonder what all the fuss is about until you reach the end and finally feel the impact of what Benigni has been trying to say. The film opens in Arezzo, Italy in 1939, Benigni and his pal just a couple of fun loving Italian guys looking to make a place for themselves. Benigni wants to open a book store but will end up waiting tables instead while he charms his 'Princess' in spite of her imminent engagement. Benigni's lovely wife Nicoletta Braschi plays the girl of his dreams and falls for him because he makes her laugh. Their romance is sweet, tender, and funny. A few years down the road, now with a book store and a young son, their lives begin to be intruded upon as anti-Semitism reaches a zenith. When his 'Princess' arrives home one day to find them taken by soldiers she hunts them down and forces a soldier to allow her to share in their fate, whatever that may be, and boards the train as well. Benigni makes the concious decision to shield his son from the evil around him and save his innocence, convincing him it is all a game, the grand prize a real tank, something his son can not resist. Separated from his wife in the camp he finds clever ways to let her know he loves her, resulting in some truly touching scenes. The question is can Benigni keep up this high wire balancing act long enough to save his son's life and his innocence? The fact that Benigni keeps off screen the horror of the Holocaust makes the ending more powerful, as we have seen everything through the eyes of his son, yet we know the truth his son does not. The final shot is joyous yet poignant, leaving us suddenly angry, moved by what we have seen in unexpected ways. The power of this film is derived from the joy of living Benigni instills in it. This is a magnificent film probably not appreciated as much as it should be but a film that stands as a moving testament to all those who did not get to continue the joy of living. No film library is complete without this foreign film masterpiece.
Rating: - Standing ovation...even from the best actors in the world
During the Acadamy Awards this year Hollywood was greeted by a truly amazing surprise... money and glamor is not needed to make a masterpiece. Life is Beautiful is a simple film...no special effects, dramatic action or heart-straining adventure...the movie is simply a portrayal of the poweverful meaning of love. It truly touches the heart and brings both laughter and tears to anyone. How often do you see a gang of highschool teens, an elderly couple, and young moms and dads all laughing and crying together? The film is, of course, all in Italian, the lovely language complements the film and is a perfect background melody. I truly recommend this film, not only because of its genuine, deep meaning but also because it helps the human soul escape from the daily troubles of life and to notice that Life truly is Beautiful.
Rating: - A combustible combination of tragedy & comedy
To think that Roberto Benigni's "Life is Beautiful" (La Vita E Bella) "trivializes the holocaust" misses the entire point and premise of this film.It's not, as some seem to feel, a two part film. It's a seamless account of a man blessed with the ability to laugh at everything and not take himself nor, for that matter, anyone or anything else, very seriously. It's that trait which endears Guido (Roberto Benigni) even to Benigni's critics at the start of the film. In fact it's this gift of humor that allows him to foil a fascist school administrator, confound an imperious public official, befriend a German doctor and win the girl, played by Benigni's real life wife, Nicoletta Braschi. As so often happens in life, just when things are looking up, the world closes in on Guido and his family. They wind up in a Nazi concentration camp, where Guido spends all of his energy trying to shield his young son from the realities of their existence. He tells him, it's all a game and that the winner gets a life sized tank to take home. The rest is a tale of a father's love that translates into self sacrifice for his son. As he (the son/survivor) narrates at the start, "This is a very simple story, but a difficult one to tell." Apparently some folks miss the point. Make sure you see the film in its original Italian (with subtitles). It loses much of its emotional energy and charm in the translation.
|
