La Vita E Bella E Bella

Rating: 10/10 (26 September 1999)

I'm quite dismayed to see so many negative comments about _La Vita E Bella._ Is it indeed a trivialization of one of mankind's most grievous mistakes? No, no. One thing that typifies most religions, certainly Judaism, is a feeling of hope. I am not a Jew, but you do not have to be in order to see that. Since I am not a Jew, it may be said that I can not feel what Jews do about what happened, and I do not entirely, but I certainly feel pain whenever I think about the things that went on in that era. How painful to be pulled from those you love (or to have them pulled away from you) only to be systematically executed by someone with whom you have no quarrel. That should give us pause indeed. However, _La Vita E Bella_ does not mire itself in the feelings of dread and sorrow that are central in such films, masterpieces though they are, as _Schindler's List_. Instead, the film is about hope. Look up, not down. Do not try to see where you have been, but where you can go. Such are the messages of the film, and they are truly very beautiful.