it is indeed

Rating: Null/10 (17 December 2018)

The setting is Nazi-occupied Italy where Jewish bookshop owner Guido Orefice, an energetic and comical man-child, is married to the woman of his dreams and has a playful young son. When he and his family are captured and sentenced to internment in a concentration camp, the quick-witted and improvisational Guido devises an elaborate ruse to shield his child from the sheer brutality of their surroundings. This isn't just another run-of-the-mill history lesson condemning the evils of Nazism; it's a thoughtful, compelling, and (despite the sensitive subject matter) laugh-out loud funny story of love, sacrifice, and unbreakable familial bonds. A unique and touching labor of love from Benigni as lead actor, director, and co-writer that hits just the right notes and showcases the power of the human spirit. ***