a must see beautiful film

Rating: 9/10 (29 April 2013)

Life Is Beautiful Roberto Benigni
I never had much interest in seeing a foreign film before, but I'm glad this was my first. It's going to be hard to follow up on any other movie after seeing Life Is Beautiful. Roberto Benigni fairly showed the true colors of a man who only wants what is best for his family by developing a character that not only uses his humor and love in the hardest of times, but also protects the innocence of his son Joshua (Georgio Cantarini). I especially enjoyed the setting of the film and how it took place in a colorful Italy and moved to a heartbreaking Nazi camp. The use of colors did not go unnoticed, along with the costumes. The time that went into such stitches made the movie seem that much more realistic and emotional. Also, the use of long shots throughout the film really added to the scenery which was absolutely beautiful. This film reminds me a lot of the book Maus. A father looking out for his son to one day tell him the truth of what it was really like for the Jews during WWII. However, Maus had a more serious take on the war and the camps compared to Life Is Beautiful where Benigni tried to create a false reality to make it easier for him and Joshua which was distressing and lifting at the same time. Another mechanic that did not go unnoticed was the editing involved in the production of the film. The scenes had great flow to them and were always easy to follow making the plot more interesting and appealing to the audience. The same goes for Maus, a great story board led to a great tale of the Nazi camps and the survival of Vladek Spiegelman. I highly suggest seeing this film if you are the type of person who loves a good script and outstanding performances by a brilliant cast. Even if you're are someone who doesn't think they would be interested in a foreign film, you should definitely see Life Is Beautiful.