Holocaust Romance

Rating: 6/10 (30 April 2013)

Life is Beautiful (1997) Cast: Roberto Benigni, Nicoletta Braschi, Giogio Cantarini Director: Roberto Benigni Review: Roberto Benigni directs and stars in the Italian film, Life is Beautiful (La Vita e Bella). This film gives viewers an uplifting and heart-warming comedy-drama film that tells a story about a Jewish man named Guido, whom falls in love with a woman named Dora. They have what it seems to be a wonderful life, especially when their son Giosue is born. Guido's sense of humor brings the audience the smiles and laughter while Giosue will bring you to awe. Guido and his son are sent to a Concentration Camp, while Dora demands to be put on the train along with them. Guido uses his positivity and imagination to help his son through the Nazi- Concentration Camp by acting as though it's a game, and whoever gets out wins the prize of a tank, which happens to be Giosue's favorite. Although the plot of the story doesn't catch the overall seriousness of the Holocaust, it brings the viewers a story of a family who is forced to live through the experience. This film relates to the comic book, Maus by Art Spiegelman, because it's a story about how a family has to deal with living in abnormal and even disgusting conditions of the Holocaust. In Maus, Vladek and Anja fall in love and go through the Holocaust together, fighting different battles each day, such as losing their son, which is alike to Life is Beautiful where Guido and Dora fall in love and go through the Holocaust together, yet not everyone makes it through either. Overall these are both wonderful stories that will bring you to tears.