aka La Vita è bella
This is a foreign film therefore it is subtitled; however that should not deter you from seeing it. I recommend watching it in Italian with English subtitles rather than watching it dubbed – trust me! Also, keep in mind that this movie isn’t supposed to be historically accurate. Lastly, be prepared to laugh and cry.
***SPOILER ALERT***
Plot: A+
“This is a simple story. But not an easy one to tell” – Giosué Orefice (narrating as an adult).
This story takes place in the late 1930s with WWII looming in the near future. Guido, a charming Italian Jew makes his way into a city his uncle lives with hopes of opening a bookstore. His first day there he bumps into a lady named Dora whom he calls ‘Principessa’. Their paths cross a few more times and they eventually get married. The story fast-forwards 5 years later when they have a very cute son named Giosué and they’re living in the midst of WWII.
Because Guido and Giosué are Jews, they are put on a train by the Nazi’s and are sent to a concentration camp along with Guido’s uncle Eliseo. Dora gets wind of this and she demands to be put on the train as well. Guido tries to shield Giosué from the harsh reality of what’s really going on. To keep Giosué’s spirits up, he comes up with a clever explanation that they’re taking a trip and they’re going to be participating in a game in which the players need to earn 1000 points to get the 1st place prize: a real tank (Giosué’s favorite toy). This is the most heartbreaking movie ever and it has a great blend of tragedy and comedy.
Script: A
The dialogue is funny and heartwarming. Some lines I liked (which will make sense if you’ve seen the movie) are:
Guido: I wonder if we’ll ever bump into each other standing up.
Guido: I can only hear out of this ear.
Giosué Orefice: It’s raining. I’ll come down with a terrible fever.
Guido (pretending to translate): The game starts now. You have to score one thousand points. If you do that, you take home a tank with a big gun. Each day we will announce the scores from that loudspeaker. The one who has the fewest points will have to wear a sign that says "Jackass" on his back. There are three ways to lose points. One, turning into a big crybaby. Two, telling us you want to see your mommy. Three, saying you’re hungry and want something to eat.
And my absolute favorite:
Guido: Buongiorno, Principessa!
Acting: A
I thought the kid that played Giosué was adorable, and he did a great job! He may not have been the best child actor out there, but I’d rather have an actual 5 year old playing the part, rather than an older kid trying to pass off as a younger kid any day.
Roberto Benigni did an amazing job with his role. His goofy look added to Guido’s humorous personality. Nicoletta Braschi (as Dora) was really good too!
Overall: A
The first half is a light-hearted and pleasant comedy while the second half is about the hardships Guido faces to protect his son in the concentration camp. It’s a tragically beautiful movie and by the end, you will agree that life truly is beautiful.
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