You'll stay in your seat staring at the screen, just thinking it all over...

Rating: 10/10 (18 April 1999)

La Vita e Bella is set during World War II in Italy and it starts as a comedy. A comedy about the holocaust?? Well, yes. It has gotten as much criticism as it has received prizes. Even though it is rather controversial, the movie's plot, acting and screenplay are just too brilliant to ignore. It all starts as a pretty lame comedy, but then in the second half it turns into a moving and touching story with some truly brilliant moments. I don't consider this a comedy (the first hour really got me wondering what the fuss was all about), it was much more an emotional movie. There's one scene that kinda sums it all up and makes me lump just thinking of it. To all none Italian people who are not used to reading subtitles: don't let them scare you off. After a while you won't even notice you're reading them. You may kinda fall asleep during the first half, but you'll be wide awake watching the second half.
Over here (The Netherlands) when a movie ends everyone stands up instantly and sprints to the exit of the theater. With this movie, when the end credits started rolling, people stayed in their seats staring at the screen, just thinking it all over...