|
La Vita e Bella (Life Is Beautiful)
The first part of this wonderful film shows the courtship between
our hero, Guido Orefice and his Princess, an already engaged school
teacher, Dora , as he wins her over with his spontaneous gifts
of imagination love, courage and irresistible sense of humor.
After a voice over narration listed above, the story begins in
1939, when a carefree, zany, imaginative, optimistic book keeper
turned waiter, Guido Orefice (Roberto Benigni) comes to live with
his Uncle (Giustino Durano) in Tuscany, Italy. On his way there,
the car loses its breaks, and after a funny incident, where he
is mistaken for someone else, they stop the car near a farm, where
he and his friend stop to fix the brakes on the car.
He meets Dora (Nicoletta Braschi), on this farm in a most surprising
way, capturing his heart. He calls her "Principessa!." Dora was
from a well-to-do family and was visiting the farm for some unknown
reason. From now on, whenever he bumps into her, he says, "Buongiorno,
Principessa!"
He takes away 6 eggs as a gift, which cause him trouble later
on when they accidentally wind up splattering on the head of Dora's
fiancee, making a disastrous ending to Guido's first attempt to
get a license to open a book store, as well as making an enemy
in town government.
By accident, Guido bumps into Dora again in the street, where
he learns that she is a school teacher. When an opportunity arises,
he masquerades as the Government Inspector of Ministry, who was
scheduled one morning to visit Dora's school. One of my favorite
sequence of scenes begins, as he spontaneously fakes his way in
front of the students and teachers, even trying to make a date
with Dora.
When the principal asks him to make a speech to the school on
the newly made Race Manifesto, that states, "Our Race is Superior,"
he bucks and wings it, jumping up on a table in front of the kids,
in a hilarious routine, boasting of various parts of his body,
until the real Inspector of Ministry shows up. He proudly says,
"I'll make my Aryan exist and say good-bye!, " and hops out the
window.
He found out she was going to the opera theater one night from
their conversation at the school, so he shows up as well, and
goes out of his way to show his love for her.
As he was working as a waiter at The Grand Hotel, he finds himself
working at Dora's engagement party, where he bumbles around, showcasing
Roberto Benign's genius at physical humor. Through a series of
humorous incidents, Guido fully wins Dora's heart, and carries
her off when he rides his uncle's horse into the room. The horse
had been painted green, with the words, "Jewish Horse" written
on its side.
The second part of the film shows the events of the last year
of the war, 1944. The Nazi's had taken control, and signs of anti-Jewish
sentiment were clearly seen. Guido and Dora have been married
for 5 years, and had a nearly 5 year old son, Giosue (Joshua.),
living an ideal life, despite the descrimination / persecution.
Guido has his book store, where his son helps him, and Dora is
still teaching. Their life is suddenly disrupted on Giosue's 5th
birthday, when the family is sent by train to a Nazi work / death
camp, a depressing, stark place.
From the very start of their solemn train trip, Guido Orefice
begins formulating a game to mask the grim reality they were about
to experience, out of love for his son, whom he wants to shield
from their grim reality and the evilness around them. By the time
they had arrived at the camp, he had the solution that would keep
his son's spirits up, and hope existing.
Using his gifts of imagination, his humor, and his courage, in
spontaneous ways, he continuously convinces his son with a smile
that they are all playing a game to earn 1000 points to win a
grand prize; a real tank! To prove it to his son, he musters his
courage and volunteers to translate the camp instructions that
were given in German by a very mean-looking, gruff, loud German
soldier, despite the fact that he didn't know a word of German,
gambling that the Germans present wouldn't catch on! This totally
cheered up young Giosue, convincing him that this game of earning
points is real.
This is another favorite sequence of scenes. Part of his pretend
translation: "You can lose all your points for any one of three
things. One: If you cry. Two: If you ask to see your mother. Three:
If you're hungry and ask for a snack! Forget it!"
They have some close calls. After the rest of the children and
old people were gassed in the shower, Guido added another important
part to the game, explaining to Giosue that he had to hide and
not be seen by the Germans or they would win the tank!
Throughout the rest of the film, the daring, imaginative Guido
never lets an opportunity pass him by to improve the lot of his
son, and still surprise his wife, who he hasn't seen since he
saw her go on the train. In one instance, he and his son talk
on the unattended camp microphone, letting her know that both
of them were alive and surviving with their spirits attached.
Be sure to have a box of Kleenex with you during the last 30
minutes of this masterpiece, as it is both happy and sad, victorious
and tragic.
This glorious film is a classic masterpiece, not only because
of its original screenplay, marvelous direction, wonderful cast
and haunting music, but also because it successfully makes a point
through comedy, in a unique format, using romance, tragedy, human
courage and spontaneity, all taking place during fascist Italy,
under the influence of the evil Naxis. It is no wonder that this
film won over 70 international awards, as well as receiving the
Best Foreign Picture Oscar.
This labor of love was directed and written by the multi-gifted
Roberto Benigni, who is a genius, known for not only for his great
writing ability and for having a mastery of timing, but also for
his ability to blend physical humor into his magical stories.
Benigni, a successful comedian actor, became a writer and director
as well in 1983.
Vincenzo Cerami also helped to write this funny and poignant
story about the love, courage and determination that one man shows
and never waivers from the goal of protecting his son, and surprising
his wife. Cerami has teamed up with Benigni for other fine films
as well, such as: "Johnny Stecchino," "Mostro,Il " and "Piccolo
diavolo, Il."
Opening voice-over Narration: "This is a simple story, but not
an easy one to tell. Like a fable, there is sorrow, and, like
a fable,
it is full of wonder and happiness." |
LIFE
IS BEAUTIFUL... THE FOREIGN REVIEW 
