Life is Beautiful- a great film (similar to "Maus")

Rating: 7/10 (29 April 2013)

"Life is Beautiful", an Italian film called "La Vita e Bella" takes place during the Holocaust. This movie is directed by Roberto Benigni, starring Roberto Benigni himself as Guido; a humorous yet romantic Jewish character who instantly falls in love with school teacher, Dora played by Nicoletta Braschi. Guido wants to open a bookstore and while trying to do so makes enemies with the town clerk who we later find out is Doras fiancé. Through many accidental encounters with Dora and Guido she gets to know his loving and goofy personality while he tries to woo her. After yet another accidental encounter that happens to be her engagement party, she says to Guido "take me away" and he does just that.
Years have passed, off-screen and we are introduced to Guido and Doras son, Joshua played by Georgio Cantarini. Guido and Joshua are then taken away on trains to go to a Jewish camp. When Dora finds out she follows and demands to be let on the train. Dora is at the same camp but separated from Joshua and Guido. Guido convinces Joshua that they are part of a game and the winner receives a real tank, his favorite toy. Through the rest of the movie he is trying to protect his son from the harsh death camp and get his family out of there.
Roberto Benigni, as Guido was the perfect person for this role. He had very goofy personality as he does in real life and it fit perfectly for this part. Not only the acting was great though, also the technique used to show significance was very powerful. At the beginning of the movie it showed a foggy place, and it was foreshadowing the rest of the movie saying that it was going to be a sad movie with downfall of the characters. Another time that was significant was when they got on the train to go to the Jewish camp. It had the train leaving in a long shot showing that they didn't have control anymore of what was going to happen to them and they were out of reach of their fate. This movie did a perfect job combing a normal love life with the struggles of the Holocaust like many people had to live through. Benigni wrote the death of Guido perfectly as well. The viewers had grown to love this character and then he was shot and gone just like nothing had happened. Some may think they should of played the death out more of the main character, but by not playing the death of Guido portrayed what actually happened during that time better. Families and friends had grown to love one another and with a single gun shot that love and connection were gone.
While reading "Maus" by Art Speigleman in English class I realized there were some similarities to this movie. The book "Maus" being about the Holocaust also obviously shares a similar theme, but there are more similarities besides that as well. In both "Maus" and "Life is Beautiful", there was a bond between father and son. These relationships were similar because the fathers were trying to protect there sons. In "Life is Beautiful" by pretending they were playing a game for a grand prize of a tank, and in "Maus" by not telling Artie about Anjas diary and what he had done with it. Also in both of these stories they shared a theme of survival, much like any Holocaust story has. During "Life is Beautiful" Guido the whole time was trying to stay strong and survive for his wife and son and he was trying to protect Joshua from the harsh death camp. He strived to protect and help his family survive, and it ended in his death. This is similar to the book "Maus" where the whole time Artie is trying all he can do to make Anja feel safe and protect her and the ones he loves from getting taken away to a camp.
Both "Life is Beautiful" and "Maus" are great stories about the struggles of the Holocaust and how this event changed life forever. They were both awesome stories and I recommend watching "Life is Beautiful" and reading "Maus." Through the techniques used they will for sure send your emotions on a roller coaster.