La Vita a Bella is Beautiful

Rating: 9/10 (18 December 2005)

Regardless of how historians and students feel about the Holocaust, do not be alarmed. This is a love story about a funny man and a lovely woman who have a son together. The Pre-WWII setting is simply a motif where everything takes place. However, this movie doesn't intend to be a rehashed bashing of Nazi Germany where we have seen in high profile films like "Schindler's List", "Diary of Anne Frank", and countless other Holocaust movies. These movies had a purpose and it was often to point fingers at those responsible for all the deaths in concentration camps during WWII. "La Vita a Bella' takes a different outlook and demonstrates how a nice European family fell victim to the political problems and tragedy of WWII. It's a sweet and wonderful film with a good sense of humor. Roberto Benigni was fairly unknown before this came out. But when he accepted his award for best actor, everyone clearly noticed his English was quite shaky. For a guy to win the hearts of the world with his limitations is proverbial. I remember when the cameras panned to the audience and so many people, actors and stars, were crying in joy for his achievement. The end of the movie had me crying my eyes clean as well. This is truly a gem and should be cherished for anyone with a heart.