Benigni's ability to combine tragedy and comedy

Rating: 10/10 (2 January 2006)

Roberto Benigni plays Guido Orefice, a funny waiter who works to his uncle Eliseo (Giustino Durano).He falls for a schoolteacher named Dora (Nicoletta Braschi), whom he calls principessa.Later they are married with a son Giosué (Giorgio Cantarini) and Guido owns a bookstore.Due to Guido's Jewish origin he's sent to concentration camp with his son.Dora follows them but is put in an other part of the camp.Guido makes his son to believe that it's all a game where you have to collect 1000 points and the winner gets a tank.That way he shuts the eyes of his son from the horrors of the concentration camp.He keeps up his good spirit in the eyes of Giosué even when he's going through some incredible misery. La vita é bella (1997) is a wonderful movie from Roberto Benigni.It won three Oscars giving one for Benigni for best actor.This Italian filmmaker combines comedy and tragedy in a way Charles Chaplin used to do.Laughter and tears walk hand in hand in this movie.It offers you lots of funny moments and also moments that can be very sad and touching.In some moments you can find your eyes filled with tears and be laughing at the same time.Benigni's energetic acting brings you in a good mood.All the actors are terrific.Benigni's real-life wife Braschi is amazing and the kid actor Cantarini does a marvelous job.This is a perfect movie.It shows life can be beautiful even when it seems ugly.