Life Is Beautiful.
Starring Roberto Benigni and Nicoletta Braschi Directed By Roberto Benigni Running Time: 1 hour 54 minutes.
(Miramax)
Only the Italians could create a love story set against the holocaust, and make it as wonderful and enjoyable as this. Benigni plays Guido, a Jewish bookstore owner who falls in love with Dora (Braschi.) However, this is during the period of Nazi Germany, and Guido, Dora, their son Giosue (Giorgio Cantarini) and Uncle (Giustino Durano) end up at a concentration camp. We follow their adventures there, as Benigni turns the camp into a 'game' to Giosue, an he tries to reunite himself with his wife.
This film is truly great. Benigni gives a performance with a childlike spark that is so perfect and uplifting it puts a big smile on your face. From the jaunty comedy start to the heart breaking end, Benigni is full of warmth, charm and appeal. Having also written the screenplay himself, I imagine he performed the character just the way he wanted it, and it is perfect. Braschi isn't quite as strong as his wife, but she is still memorable, even if she does pale to the complete charm and energy of Benigni. Cantarini is an absolute delight, a wonderfully talented young actor who deserves to go on to much better things. He also gets an hugely up lifting scene at the end which has to be to be believed and cherished.
The screenplay is great, if a little underwhelming at first. This is mainly because the first hour or so is a big set up for the main plot. Consisting of little romantic vignettes, it's still a comic delight, and the change of tone from whimsical romance to the horrors of the holocaust is so well handled by Benigni, it's seamless. In fact, you could almost forget it's set against the holocaust, if the film was not to remind you of all the horrors, such as the gas chamber. But the film has a bubbly charm that nearly offsets this. It may feel strange laughing through the holocaust, but Benigni sure makes it feel good.
It's impossible to describe how enjoyable this film is. I could write paragraphs about how the energetic writing, directing, acting and even minor details such as the music and production design make this film a delight, but it wouldn't do the film justice. Benigni knows exactly what makes the audience tick, and exploits us completely. It's never too schmaltzy, it's never too depressing, it's just the right mix of whimsy and horror. The greatest achievement is that Benigni has created such as uplifting film about one of the scariest atrocities of the decade. Witty, surprising, fast paced and a triumph, Life is Beautiful is an instant classic. Do not miss out.
RATING=***** OUT OF *****
A David Wilcock Review ©1999
DAVID WILCOCK david.wilcock@btinternet.com Visit the Wilcock Movie Page! http://www.wilcock54.freeserve.co.uk
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