Not quite a Holocaust movie

Rating: 9/10 (4 October 2017)

The Holocaust's depiction in film usually focuses on the absolute horror that the Jews endured and the eventual triumph of a people out of tragedy. Whether it's Escape from Sobibor, Schindler's List, and how about the aptly-named Triumph of the Spirit?
Life is Beautiful subverts this genre convention to create an experience that is tragic, comic, heartfelt, and deeply personal. Guido is one of the most fully realized characters I've ever seen put to film, and all of his actions feel very natural and organic. The focus of the film is on him and his selflessness through trial. The Holocaust serves as a backdrop to help us learn more about a character: his positivism, wit, charm, cheer, and, most important, his love and self- sacrifice for his son.
If you've heard that this film is in bad taste, I urge you to watch it and consider for yourself. I didn't find it so, but, to be fair, the Holocaust had no direct, personal impact on me.
The film does subvert itself at times with its levity. Specifically, the instance of the German doctor's riddle to Guido towards the end of the film comes to mind. Despite this, the film emerges triumphant as one of my personal favorite pieces of cinema.