Life Is Beautiful
LetÕs face it: American movies have really been going downhill the past few years. Regarding the Best Picture award, The Academy of Arts and Sciences is not choosing from Òthe best of the bestÓ; itÕs choosing from Òthe least worst of the mediocre.Ó With that in mind, foreign films are receiving critical acclaim, popularity, and Oscar nominations in the United States. The year 2000 brought us the physics-bending Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, and we met a charming French waitress named Amelie in 2001. Before those two gems, ItalyÕs favorite actor, Roberto Benigni, directed, co-wrote, and starred in Life is Beautiful, an original tale about a prevailing human spirit during one of historyÕs darkest hours.
The setting is a small town in Italy during 1939. Benigni plays Guido Orefice, a charming and witty Jewish waiter. Guido meets Dora, a teacher, and falls in love with her immediately; he always calls her Òprincess.Ó However, Dora is engaged to a man she doesnÕt love. Getting to the point: ÒPrincessÓ falls for GuidoÕs charm and persistent affection.
A few years up the road finds Guido and Dora married with a small son, Joshua. On JoshuaÕs birthday, Nazis pick him and Guido up to take them to the concentration camp. Joshua is scared, so Guido convinces him that itÕs a birthday surprise. Later, Guido induces his son into believing that the concentration camp is a game and that they will win a tank if they obey the Òbig mean men who yell.Ó While keeping Joshua from being scared, Guido has to keep his own fears in check. The result is one of the most moving father-son films I have seen.
BenigniÕs comedy style is mostly physical. At DoraÕs and her jerk fiancŽeÕs engagement party, Guido stares at Dora while he walks into an armchair, spilling the plate of food he was carrying. He picks up all of the food from the floor, and heÕs still smitten over her; he absent-mindedly puts a dog on his tray! Benigni is funny and wholesome. There is no sexual or toilet humor anywhere in Life.
This film dilutes the atrocities of the Holocaust. Compared to SchindlerÕs List, LifeÕs Nazis are not as ruthless, but theyÕre still not your friendly next-door neighbors. Simply stated, Life Is Beautiful reminds us that Nazis were horrible excuses for humans, but they do not interrupt the filmÕs comedic tone.
The principle characters are lovable and strong. Dora demands to be on the train headed for the concentration camps after learning that her husband and son are on that train. Joshua, being only 5 years old, is intelligent and witty, having received both of his parentÕs best qualities. He is sharp enough to challenge Guido, but he is too innocent to be aware of the worldÕs evils. Guido is bumbling, but his intentions are always honorable. He would do anything to ensure the safety of his family.
Life is an amazing movie. If youÕre not laughing over GuidoÕs witty behavior, youÕre crying over his tender relationship with his wife and son. Life Is Beautiful. This movie is too.
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Most romantic comedies do not encourage drinking, especially foreign ones with subtitles.
This movie will undoubtedly touch your heart. Hopefully, your mate will want to touch you too.
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Related Articles:
1) 10 Great Foreign Films
2) Amelie
3) Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
