Life is Beautiful

Rating: 10/10 (29 April 2013)

Roberto Benigni was always a beloved actor in his home land of Italy and recognized by many for his comedic films. However, one film really did him in to make him a well known actor around just more than Italy and into the whole world. Roberto Benigni directs and stars in the foreign film with subtitles Life is Beautiful and takes on the humorous, smart character of Guido. While this is really two films in one, his comedic actions really make you forget you're watching a film about the holocaust at all. A man from the country is moving into the city where he plans to open a new bookshop. On a stop along the way, he randomly encounters this beautiful woman by the name of Dora played by Nicoletta Braschi. She accidentally falls from a barn and right into his arms. Guido perplexed yet believing turns on the charm and falls into love at first sight and instantaneously calls her his princess. The two go their separate ways until yet another random bump into occurs instead this time Guido falls into his princess' arms in the city. His gut-wrenching humor along the way adds a predicament to Dora as she must stay faithful to her already fiancé. Although Guido might like to say the next few visits to his princess are random, they are not as his job as a waiter leads him onto the conclusion that Dora is a teacher. His daring personality and his ability to add suspense into the audience begins when he deceives Dora's school that he is the inspector. Once again the audience gets a kick out of the fact that Guido can always find Dora, and he turns on his silly side during the inspection where the school expects him to be serious and actually talk to the students about Italy. When put on the spot, Guido shows his true talent of improvisation. He speaks on and on about how great Italy is and walks around on tables going on and on about the most random and obvious facts about their country. As the real inspector shows up, Guido must make an urgent exit that leaves everyone with their jaws wide open and Dora's mouth in the shape of a smile. As the film progresses farther and farther, we learn that Dora's fiancé is not treating her right and boom there again does Guido pop out of nowhere and make things better in the pouring rain. Just by the way you see it you would go crazy with laughter. To end part one and really the movie could end happily and happily ever after, Guido takes his damsel in distress and saves her as they ride off into the sunset together. As five years pass, Guido and his princess have a son by the name of Joshua and are happily married and Guido finally has his dream job. The Nazi's are approaching war and signs hang from all over reading that Jews are no longer accepted. Only time would then sadly abrupt the family as they are taken by train to a concentration camp. What might at first sound like a very sad situation, Guido repeatedly tells his son that it is all a game and that they need to make the best of every situation. Probably the most hilarious comic relief of all where his improvisation comes back is the part where Guido really needs to sell that everything is a big game to his son so he knowingly lies that he speaks German. He had to repeat every word the officer said so everyone knew the rules in this horrid place. Guido changes all the German's word and translates them into funny rules in Italian. Joshua is impressed and carries on with the difficult rules of the fun game which has a final prize that Joshua can't walk away from. An old friend Doctor Lessing from Guido's waiter days appears at the camp as an authoritative figure. Just when twists and turns for mostly bad carry on, a glimpse of freedom is sought just around the corner. This is a must see foreign film and one that triumphed in 1997 as it won many awards. Roberto Benigni truly created a masterpiece that touches the heart and makes you want to laugh and cry all in one. It relates to the graphic novel Maus in several ways. Both Vladek from Maus and Guido from Life is Beautiful make the best of their lives in a really bad situation. Both instances they could have given up and dropped the anvil however they carried on as they only wanted to keep living. Between the techniques of angles and shots and placements, both stories share a lot of common ancestor while retelling the sad story of life in a concentration camp. As Benigni tried and succeeded in his feature film, he really balances the wonderfulness of comedy mixed with tragedy. To find out the ending of the film is a must, but be forewarned that the transition from part one to part two can be a lot to handle and ride the fine line of a sensitive subject. Tears will be bursting out of your eyes; tears of happiness and joy and tears of sadness will show. It was a film I enjoyed and one that I will forever remember and recommend to others.