La Vita è Bella [Life is Beautiful] (20 December 1997)
directed by Roberto Benigni
starring Roberto Benigni, Nicoletta Braschi, Giorgio Cantarini, Horst Buchholz
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MPAA rating: Studio: Melampo Cinematograpica, Miramax Script: Vincenzo Cerami, Roberto Benigni Music: Nicola Piovani Tags: Comedy; Foreign Film; Holocaust; Italy; religion; war; World War II Tactical strength: [10/10]
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for holocaust-related thematic elements
When I first heard of Life is Beautiful, I wondered how Roberto Benigni could make a comedy centered around the Holocaust without trivializing those events. Benigni never minimizes anything about the Holocaust and has created a masterpiece.
Benigni plays Guido Orefice, a simple man who wants to run a bookstore in Arezzo, Italy. On his way there, he meets Dora (Nicoletta Braschi). Guido catches her when she jumps out of an upper-level barn door. Guido and Dora continue to meet, first by chance, then through Guido's contrivance. They marry and the story jumps to about five years in the future on the day before their son Giosué's (Giorgio Cantarini) birthday.
Dora comes home to find that the Nazi's have taken Guido and Giosué. She goes to the train station and insists that the station officer allow her on the train. Guido spends the rest of the movie trying to shield Giosué from the horrors of the camp by making Giosué believe that he can win a real tank if he follows the rules of the game Guido makes up. Guido also takes every opportunity to reassure Dora that he and Giosué still live. For example, before their marriage, Guido arranges to meet Dora at an opera. In the camp, Guido sends Dora a message by playing a recording of the same music out an open window.
Benigni and Cerami have finely woven all the plot elements together as you would expect in a superb short story. The story never denies life's harsh realities, yet still encourages us to live with more joy, regardless of our situation.
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