An inspired motion picture masterpiece, LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL was nominated for 7 Academy Awards(R) -- winning 3 Oscars, including one for Best Actor Robert Benigni. In this extraordinary tale, Guido (Benigni) -- a charming but bumbling waiter who's gifted with a colorful imagination and an irresistible sense of humor -- has won the heart of the woman he loves and created a beautiful life for his young family. But then, that life is threatened by World War II ... and Guido must rely on those very same strengths to save his beloved wife and son from an unthinkable fate! Honored with an overwhelming level of critical acclaim, this truly exceptional, utterly unique achievement will lift your spirits and capture your heart!
Italy's rubber-faced funnyman Roberto Benigni accomplishes the impossible in his World War II comedy Life Is Beautiful: he shapes a simultaneously hilarious and haunting comedy out of the tragedy of the Holocaust. An international sensation and the most successful foreign language film in U.S. history, the picture also earned director-cowriter-star Benigni Oscars for Best Foreign Language Film and Best Actor. He plays the Jewish country boy Guido, a madcap romantic in Mussolini's Italy who wins the heart of his sweetheart (Benigni's real-life sweetie, Nicoletta Braschi) and raises a darling son (the adorable Giorgio Cantarini) in the shadow of fascism. When the Nazis ship the men off to a concentration camp in the waning days of the war, Guido is determined to shelter his son from the evils around them and convinces him they're in an elaborate contest to win (of all things) a tank. Guido tirelessly maintains the ruse with comic ingenuity, even as the horrors escalate and the camp's population continues to dwindle--all the more impetus to keep his son safe, secure, and, most of all, hidden. Benigni walks a fine line mining comedy from tragedy and his efforts are pure fantasy--he accomplishes feats no man could realistically pull off--both of which have drawn fire from a few critics. Yet for all its wacky humor and inventive gags, Life Is Beautiful is a moving and poignant tale of one father's sacrifice to save not just his young son's life but his innocence in the face of one of the most evil acts ever perpetrated by the human race. --Sean Axmaker
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0
One of the greatest portrayals of love:
This is one of the greatest movies ever! It's about a Jewish fellow in pre-WWII Italy who falls in love with a rich Italian Christian noble. They get married and live happily as WWII erupts. Their little son Jozue grows up oblivious to the horrors of the day thanks to his wonderful parents. Jozue's father is an eternal optimist and displays an incredible love for live and optimism even as he and little Jozue are being deported to the concentration camp just before the arrival and liberation of the allies.... more info
Excelent movie,:
After requesting the movie we thought that could take over 10 days, it only took 4 days. The movie is great, we really enjoyed.
Whimsy in a Technicolor Death Camp:
How to show the horrors of the Holocaust? Spielberg created scenes of almost documentary quality on black and white film in Schindler's List because he believed color would make it too terrible to watch. Roberto Benigni chose to make his Holocaust film in gaudy quasi-Technicolor with unnaturally rosy cheeks, bright pink dresses, and bright green horses. Its main character is a live-action cartoon, complete with slapstick humor, running sight gags, and broad yet deep romance. The result? Life Is Beautiful is... more info
An amazing foreign film... don't miss it!:
When this movie first came out, we went to the theatre to see it during a foreign film exhibition, and now, in an attempt to share it with the family and some friends, we acquired the DVD and saw it again, this time in the privacy of our home environment. Life is beautiful is about love, romance, comedy, tragedy, horror, and it surfaces the best and worse of human emotions in a way that leaves us with the hope that someday we shall learn to live better lives. Roberto Benigni starts as Guido, a... more info
