They did it

Rating: 10/10 (26 March 1999)

About 2 years ago, I contemplated on how one could express a dramatic situation by using extreme comic elements. The key is that the comedic element has to enhance the dramatic feeling and not draw attention away from it. I have not been able to work this into any writing of mine, because it's fairly difficult. Amazingly, this movie pulls it off. It deserves a "10" just for that.
That being said, I wanted to comment on the people who gave this movie bad marks because it didn't cover the Holocaust seriously. What these people don't understand is that this film is not about the holocaust; it is about a relationship or, in the broader sense, about humanity. It doesn't matter whether it is set in the Holocaust, the Inquisition, or in Roman times. Having it set in this century in Italy clearly has a purpose. It makes it easier for us to relate and the movie is in Italian. Also, if it really wanted to cover the Holocaust, wouldn't it be set in Germany or Poland. Frankly, this movie moved me much more than "Schindler's List."
"La Vita e bella" is the most original work I've seen since "Babe" proved that children's stories can be Oscar material.
Peace and Luck!