C'est la vie!

Movie review: Life is Beautiful

Genre: Foreign (Italy)

Director: Roberto Benigni

Cast: Roberto Benigni, Nicoletta Braschi, Giorgio Cantarini

Rating: 9/10

There are some movies that fall into the category of multiple viewing. The 1997 release Life Is Beautiful ((La vita è bella) is one such film. Directed by Roberto Benigni, it has great performances, a fantastic plot, simple slapstick comedy and lilting music.

Benigni also plays the lead, Guido, an Italian Jewish book store owner who falls in love with a non-Jewish teacher Dora (played by Nicoletta Braschi, Benigni's real-life wife). The background is 1939 fascist Italy. Guido attempts at wooing his lady love and eventually steals her from her fiancé from under his nose, literally. They get married and later have a son Joshua (Giorgio Cantarini). Little Joshua would stir adoration in every woman's heart, I guarantee.

Here, the movie changes its light-hearted tempo. Soon the little Italian town, where Guido and his family reside, is attacked by the Nazis. Since Guido is a Jewish, he is taken away to a concentration camp while Dora is left behind. She follows him to the camp. At this juncture, I felt it was like any other love story. But I was mistaken. My heart went out to Joshua. The plot begins to unfold in the concentration camp. It's all about the father trying to protect his son. His love for his wife can now be exchanged only with furtive glances. Guido saves Joshua from the gas chambers and hides him in the confines of his large captive hall. He tells his son that this is a game and he must adhere to the rules of hiding to win. The one who earns 1000 points is the winner and the prize is a tank. This is the heartbreaking contrast of innocence, wit and courage against the macabre of a concentration camp. One of the most memorable last scenes is, Guido comically marching away with a Nazi soldier grinning back at Joshua as he smiles back from his hiding spot.

In the beginning of the movie, Guido is a goofy character but eventually it's his sense of humour and imagination that saves his family in the Nazi camp. The background score by Oscar winner, Nicola Piovani, is a collector's delight.

Even as I am doing this review, I am overcome by the simplicity with which the movie was made. There are no elaborate sets or computer graphics, no dramatic or forced expressions, the actors remain true to their performances and the viewer is left with a feeling of soulful movie experience.