Life Is Beautiful (1997)

Original Title

La vita è bella

Genre

Comedy | Drama

Director

Roberto Benigni

Country

Italy

Cast

Roberto Benigni, Nicoletta Braschi, Giorgio Cantarini, Giustino Durano, Horst Buchholz, Amerigo Fontani, Raffaella Lebbroni, Sergio Bustric, Lydia Alfonsi, Pietro De Silva, Marisa Paredes, Claudio Alfonsi, Alessandro Nardi, Giuliana Lojodice, Francesco Guzzo, Gina Rovere, Gil Baroni, Franco Mescolini

Plot

1930's in Fascist Italy. Guido Orefice (Roberto Benigni), a Jewish Italian bookshop owner, courts and marries Dora (Nicoletta Braschi), a woman from a nearby city. They have a son, Giosuè (Giorgio Cantarini) and live happily together until the German occupation of Italy.
In attempt to help his son survive the horrors of the Concentration Camp, Guido tells his son that the Holocaust is a game and the winner takes a tank.

Opinion

Never before I've seen a film that symbolizes its name and its message so good. Life Is Beautiful is an unforgettable film, not about the Holocaust, but about love, optimism and inner strength. It is about seeing the other side of things, the surreal and funny side.
Roberto Benigni, which in my opinion is the best Italian director, is capable of bringing to the screen a dramatic story, that not only makes you cry but also makes you laugh. It is amazing the way he talks with the child, and the peace and pain message he transmits is wonderful.
If you haven't already, I highly recommend you to watch this movie. If you have and you liked it, I may suggest you another great Benigni's film, The Tiger and the Snow.

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Quotes

Guido: Buongiorno, Principessa! 

Adult Giosuè: This is my story. This is the sacrifice my father made. This was his gift to me.

Guido: What kind of place is this? It's beautiful: Pigeons fly, women fall from the sky! I'm moving here!

Rating

10/10