Life Is Beautiful Movie Review

Life Is Beautiful Movie Review

“Life Is Beautiful”
Movie Review

“This is a simple story... but not an easy one to tell…” It would seem pretty accurate for a person who witnessed the events taking place in the movie “Life Is Beautiful” to begin with such a quote. It is said by Joshua (Giorgio Cantarini), son of Guido and Dora Orefice. In the beginning, we see Jewish poet Guido (Roberto Benigni) trying to win over an Italian schoolteacher, Dora (Nicoletta Braschi). With Guido’s charm and determination to sweep Dora off her feet, the two fall in love. They later bare a son who they name Joshua and move into Guido’s uncle’s house.

With the movie taking place in Italy throughout the 1930s, people today know about the Holocaust. For the first five years of Joshua’s life, the war continued. The day before Joshua’s birthday, he and his father were arrested by the Germans. Dora came home to find he house in shambles, eventually finding out what would be in store for the three at the concentration camp. Under her own will, she boarded the train along with Guido and Joshua.

To protect Joshua from the truth, Guido lies and says that it is like a little vacation for his upcoming birthday. He tells Joshua that it is like a game where everyone is on “teams,” men on one team, women on another and the elderly on the last. Guido also tells Joshua that the winner of the game will win a new tank, but must capture 1000 points first. Out of the love he has for his son, Guido avoids telling any truth about the horrible events taking place at the concentration camp and covers it up with a lie to keep his dear son happy.

Throughout the movie, Guido’s sense of humor lightens the mood and somehow downplays the violence and devastation left by the Holocaust. Although it is hard to relate to a person who worked at a concentration camp at that time, Guido portrays the events as we think how they happened in the 1930s. The way he is able to think on his feet makes him likable to...