Average Rating: 
Rating:  - You¿ll laugh, you¿ll cry: a truly moving movie.
An Italian movie? Worth watching? If you are put off by the fact that this movie was produced in Italian, you'll miss the pleasure of seeing one of the most "moving" movies ever made. And fortunately for us English-speaking folks, a version has been produced with English voices fluently dubbed over the original Italian. You'll find that the power of this movie goes beyond languages and cultures.The setting is Italy, prior the Second World War; the protagonist Guido is a bumbling yet charming waiter. With his Charlie Chaplin style charm, Guido attempts to seduce the pretty schoolteacher Dora, only to find she is already engaged. In a comic sequences of events, he courts and wins his bride. But this first half of the movie about romance is mere background, setting the emotional stage for the rest of the movie and the horror that follows. After their marriage and an interlude of five years, it becomes evident that Guido is a Jew. Along with his wife and son Giosue (Joshua), he is deported to a concentration camp. The structure reminds me of "It's a Wonderful Life", which in a similar manner is composed of two halves, the first half developing sympathy for a character and his family, and the second half placing this character in the cauldron of fiery trials and tragedy. There are also similarities with the movie "Titanic" - a man falls in love with an engaged woman based on physical attraction, and after the conquest of their love they are together they are thrown into a horrific trial with a tragic conclusion. But "Life is Beautiful" has a story far more "titanic" in its power and passion, and unlike the Hollywood blockbuster, it is genuine love based on self sacrfice rather than immoral passions. Whatever suggestion there is of immorality (such as Guido's declaration that he desires to make love to her on the street) is presented absurdly and for humor, and is hardly intended to be taken seriously, unlike the steamy car scene in Titanic. The very vague suggestion that they sleep together before marriage quickly fades behind the image of marital faithfulness, the wife's selfless devotion to her husband and family, and the self-sacrificing love of a husband and father. While the first half is very comic, the second half is very serious. Guido is desperate to protect young Joshua from the horror inflicted by the Germans, and so he pretends that the concentration camp is part of an elaborate game, with the first prize being a real tank. He tries to keep up his son's spirits by ingeniously inventing this game, saying "Isn't this fun?" "I've never had so much fun!" "It sure is fun!" These repeated statements ring hollow in the middle of a concentration camp, and the illusion is hard to maintain when the boy says "I just don't get this game" and wants it to be over. His father's reply "This game is serious" has more significance than he realizes. The first part of the movie features many memorable scenes of comedy: the belly-button classroom speech; the couple in deep conversation on the steps, he holding a steering wheel and she holding a pillow over her behind; a passionate kiss that occurs underneath the table; the green horse Prince Charming uses to rescue his princess; Guido's "interpreting" of the German guard's instruction. But as comedy turns into tragedy, there are also memorable scenes of tragedy: the old Jew offering to help up the German who trips in the gas chambers; the irony of the German doctor who can help Guido but is obsessed with his riddles: "You have to help me!"; and the boy's final vision of his father goose-stepping between the guards. The concluding hope ("We won! We won!") is touched by tragedy. By not being afraid to include sorrow, this tragic note makes the movie all the more emotional and successful. I can think of few movies that have affected me as emotionally as this one. Injecting a movie about the holocaust with comedy was taking a major risk, but ultimately made the movie all the more successful. The height of comedy in the first half makes the depth of tragedy in the second half all the deeper. The PG-13 rating is primarily because of one instance of blasphemy, and a few war scenes. Any adult themes that are present, however are not seen, but implied off-screen, including the actual horrors of the concentration camp. Rather than dwell on the physical horrors of war through sensationalism, this movie focuses instead on the emotional impact. It is especially the actor Roberto Benigni that makes this succeed. As well as being the main actor, Roberto Benigni was also the writer and director of the movie. In the half-hour featurette that is on the DVD, he acknowledges that the biggest influence on his acting was Charlie Chaplin. Not does his slap-stick humour provide wonderful comic relief, but also emotion. It's a brilliant performance that deservedly won him the Academy Award for Best Actor. But this film also took out the Academy Awards for best soundtrack - the classical music is a wonderful emotional counterpart to the storyline - and for the best foreign language film. Over time, it has won a record of over 70 international awards. After you watch it, you'll understand why. It's a captivating picture of comedy and of survival and hope in the midst of horrific tragedy. I can't think of a single movie that has "moved" me as this one has. It may be Italian, but this is a movie not to be missed by people from anywhere around the world.
Rating: - Magical...*
Something you don't see often is an optimistic, uplifting film title as of Life is Beautiful by Roberto Benigni. As for the film, you'll have to see for yourself, it certainly has a magical and pleasant way of looking at life. Even though, actor, writer, director, producer, Roberto Benigni is a bit energetic with Oscar chairs and lives every minute to the fullest. The main role couldn't be played any better, than by talented Benigni, himself. There's a brilliant scene I especially enjoyed, which indicates the passage of time in a few seconds. The part is when Guido Orfice (Benigni) follows the woman he loves (Nicoletta Braschi) into a garden house, as he walks further, he disappears. As an offline voice calls out to someone (whom we don't know), a small child appears from the garden house,...we then realize that the voice is his mother's calling. Guido Orfice and Dora are outside waiting for their son. The film explores important values of life, even when there is sadness and tragedy, there is still room to spread hope, happiness and laughter.
Rating: - One of my Top Ten of 1998
When I read several years ago that one of Italy's favorite comedic actors planned to make a comedy about the holocaust, I was appalled. That's what I get for believing everything I read. Life is Beautiful isn't a comedy. Director and star Roberto Benigni has taken what is, in fact, a grim subject, and, in typically Italian fashion, has infused it with a marvelous lust for life. He shows the remarkable abilities many people have to adopt to any situation and to get through it with dignity and humor. And, above all, he shows the remarkable lengths a parent will go to in order to protect a child - not just from physical harm, but from mental and spiritual harm as well.This is a simple story full of the richest of characters. Guido [Benigni] is a young man who is always aware of the wonder of being alive. He can take the most mundane events and turn them into wondrous fantasies. He comes up with the most remarkable ideas for diffusing any bad situation. He is the hopeless romantic. When he moves to a small town, he immediately meets the love of his life. She is Dora [Nicoletta Braschi], the school teacher daughter of a rich, snobbish woman. Guido woos her, and she is captivated by him. Her mother has arranged for her to marry an oafish town official, but Guido has a wealth of funny tricks up his sleeve that aid him in winning her. In the beginning, theirs is a storybook romance, but soon, they encounter an obstacle that even the resourceful Guido cannot overcome, though he tries mightily. Their love affair begins in 1939, when Fascist Italy is in an evil alliance with Nazi Germany. Guido is a Jew. Fate is about to play its hand. By the time Guido and Dora's son, Giosue, is four years old, the Nazi have arrived to send Guido to a concentration camp. Guido and Giosue are arrested suddenly and placed on a train filled with other prisoners. When Dora, who is Catholic, learns of their plight, she rushes to the train station, and, in one of the most poignant scenes in movie history, she demands that the commandant put her aboard it. How can Guido protect his child's mind from the horror that is to follow? That is the heart and soul of Life is Beautiful. Guido shows incredible ingenuity, and, for the most part, Giosue believes him. At times, he just pretends to, because Guido is so full of life, love and humor. His is an infectious personality. The best label for Life is Beautiful is tragicomedy. You take the bitter with the sweet. You appreciate the gift of life. You do your best to see that, no matter what tragedy strikes, the young are preserved for a hopefully brighter future. All of these things are so hard to do, yet Guido makes them seem so simple. Recently, Miramax Films went to great lengths to make a dubbed version of the movie. This is the version I reviewed. While I know subtitles are a nuisance, dubbing often robs a film of the inflections actors try so hard to put into their words. The new language can add an unintended flatness to the dialog. This problem is not so noticeable in Life is Beautiful, and it opens the movie up to the many people who otherwise might avoid it. The movie won Oscars for Best Foreign Film, Best Actor [Benigni] and Best Dramatic Score.
|
