Historically inaccurate, but a powerful message nonetheless

Rating: Null/10 (7 February 2018)

From a purely historical perspective, Life Is Beautiful has a large number of inaccuracies. Two of the largest events that provide much of the plot of the movie are not supported by history. The marriage laws enacted in Italy in 1938 would have prohibited the union between a Jewish man and a non-Jewish woman, and Guido and Dora could never have become wedded. Additionally, the prospects of keeping a child alive in a concentration camp were grim. In the rare instances in which it did occur, it was at the effort of a large number of individuals and a good amount of sheer luck. However, with this being said, the film was clearly not created for the purposes of historical accuracy, or to portray a "typical" camp experience (if such a thing exists). The driving force behind Life Is Beautiful was, rather, to tell a story of powerful hope during one of the most tragic and horrific events in human history through the perspective of a child. In this way, the movie has a fantasy-world quality that can only be appreciated by placing oneself back in the mindset of a young kid. When one watches the movie with this perspective, many of the seemingly fantastical elements become inexplicably clear, and events that seemed ridiculous before suddenly have meaning that is pertinent and relevant. Giosué's laughter at his father's translation of the Nazi soldier's orders to the block is real, and his enthusiasm at the end of the movie upon seeing the American tank becomes palpable when keeping in mind that he believes he "won the game." Through the unconditional love that Guido shows his son and wife, I believe Life Is Beautiful touches the audience with its message of the power of hope, and is a spot of light in a history wrecked with tragedy and heartbreak.