Life is Beautiful: Review By Dan

Where as Schindler's List and The Pianist are terribly serious with their subject matter, Life is Beautiful (or La vita e bella in Italian) took an entirely different approach to the Holocaust. This may be why a lot of critics prefer this story over the other two, as it had a much more upbeat tone to it and plenty of humor mixed in with the coming darkness that was World War 2 and the Third Reich. It's fascinating how if told from the right angle, you can make light of even the darkest of subjects, but Life is Beautiful fully succeeds in this endeavor, making it all the more impressive in my mind.

Filmed in Italy, and being an Italian film through and through starring Roberto Benigni (who also wrote and directed), in the Italian language (make sure to watch that version with the subtitles, as they butcher the dialogue with the dubbed version), Life is Beautiful could almost be classified as a family film in my mind. The first half of the film follows Guido (Benigni) as he hilariously pines after the Italian bella Dora (Nicoletta Braschi, who happens to be Benigni's real life wife as well), and their eventual marriage after several humorous encounters that are sweet and sincere. The film then moves forward a few years after the birth of their son, and you begin to see how World War 2 is coming to affect Italy. Eventually Guido and his son Giosue are forced onto a train and taken to a concentration camp (along with his wife, who isn't Jewish but insists on going on the train to be with her family) as the war goes into full swing.

But while the movie could have taken a very dark turn here (and it does to some degree), the mood is kept relatively light, as Guido convinces his son that the concentration camp they are at is all a game, and one where if they win and get 1000 points, his son will get his own tank. Guido works hard to ensure the illusion of the game stays within his son's mind to keep him optimistic and not scared of the grim reality they are in, and this is about the most touching thing you could witness between a father and son in a movie. Benigni, while funny, also has a pure sincerity that will melt your heart with how much he loves his son and wishes to protect him not just physically but mentally and spiritually as well.

While not quite as grand in scale as List or Pianist, Life is Beautiful does have the most colorful palette of the three. There is a lushness of greens, yellows, blues with the countrysides and towns shown during the first half of the film, and then blacks, greys and darker shades of colors to reflect the nature of the film in the latter half when they are in the concentration camp. This expertly helps set the right mood throughout the movie.

The score by Nicola Piovani is for the most part light and joyful, reflecting Benigni's innocent, charming nature and his adventures in pining for his future wife and causing trouble along the way. Even when the movie starts in with the darker subject matter, when Guido is playing "the game" with his son, the score still felt loads more cheerful then Schindler's List ultra serious, somber music.

Chemistry between all the actors and actresses is wonderful. I'm sure it helps that Benigni and Braschi are married in real life, as their interactions feel real and like they've known each other for years. But really, the show stealer is between Guido and his son Giosue. Guido's way of helping his son through the concentration camp experience is just adorable and heartfelt, and gives enough reason for repeat viewings of the film because of how strangely uplifting it is mixed in with the grim scenario.

With a bittersweet ending that I wouldn't have any other way, Life is Beautiful is as its name, a beautiful movie. If you want a completely different take on World War 2 and the Holocaust, you definitely need to check this one out, it is a true treat.

I hope you have enjoyed my trilogy of Holocaust films, and I'm glad to end it on one that has a positive, upbeat message in it. I wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving, eat too much turkey, drink too much beer, and enjoy time with your families. Ciao!

(All words, ideas are mine. Any similarities to other reviews is complete coincidence).