Life is Beautiful
Starring Roberto Benigni, Nicoletta Braschi.
Directed by Roberto Benigni.
Rated PG-13.
Grade: B
G
If what you are looking for in a movie these days is uniqueness and originality, look here. Life is Beautiful, a new Italian tragicomedy set in the Holocaust is a tremedously upbeat and very easy to watch little movie. Made by Roberto Benigni, this is a shoo-in for Best Foreign Language film this year.
Begnigni is Guido, an ambitious Italian who comes to Rome with dreams of opening a bookstore. The first 45 minutes or so of the movie is pure comedy, as Guido tries to win the heart of a beautiful elementary school teacher. The two of them finally get married and have a child, a little boy. One day however, as they are preparing for the boy's birthday, Guido and his son get taken away to a concentration camp. Guido doesn't know what's going on so he has to think fast. He makes it all a big game for the child, where if you are the first to 1000 points you win a tank -- a real one. You get points for hiding from the guards and lose them for wanting your mommy or asking for a snack. It's a charming concept that lives up to its potential.
Life is Beautiful is funny yet poignant, sometimes hilarious and often truly touching. It is a simple and yet complex fable about imagination, faith, and most of all a father's love for his child. Benigni is perfect in his role as Guido, perfectly mixing tragedy and comedy, both in his performance and direction.
This is the kind of movie that will never be popular, at least not in this country, but deserves to be. It is one of the most entertaining, heartfelt, touching movies of the year. Not to be missed.