La Vita è Bella. Before I saw this film, I was a little confused as to just how it had earned its controversial reputation. As I watched it, I could see how some people, if they were small-minded, could object to it.
Roberto Benigni is well-known in Italy for his slapstick comedy roles. I haven't actually seen him in any other Italian films, but he was in the english-language Down By Law, and the dire Son of the Pink Panther. He won the Oscar for Best Actor for this film, and, might I add, it was a highly justified choice for once. The film also won Oscars for Best Foreign Language Film and Best Original Dramatic Score in the 1999 Academy Awards.
This film is genuinely funny and I don't want to ruin it by revealing all the jokes...
The film starts in Arezzo, in fascist-ruled Italy in 1939, following Benigni's character, Guido Orefice, as he arrives in town to work as a waiter, staying at his Uncle's house.
The film launches straight into good, clean, slapstick comedy - the like of which is seldom seen in modern film - as Guido and his friend career downhill in a car without brakes. After a humorous case of mistaken identity, the car stops, and we witness Guido's eloquent, fast-talking charm, and meet the film's leading lady, played by Benigni's real-life wife, Nicoletta Braschi.
The
first section of the film concerns Guido trying to woo the woman he calls, "Principessa". There is a brilliantly conceived part after the opera, where prefectly-timed events convene to make him appear as some kind of conjuror to her.
There are other great bits, such as the hat-swapping saga, and the scenes at the school and at the social dinner.
"Principessa", whose character name is Dora, is not a Jew, which provides a problem for her later on in the film. We learn that Guido is a Jew, and he faces many prejudices in the film, which is perhaps why some people found it unpleasant that a comedy is set in the fascist era and concerns the treatment of Jewish people.
Obviously Benigni, on the top of his trade as a comedy actor and director, perhaps in the same way as Spielberg did with Schindler's List, wanted to make a bold statement against the anti-semitism of the WWII era, in the way he knew best.
You don't need to be Jewish to appreciate the sadness of this film, yet it is a story about bravery, and the love of a father for his son, strong enough to overcome the Nazi army... well, almost.
Guido's son appears after about 45 minutes, in a fantastic Kubrick/2001-styled cut, where Guido and Dora enter the greenhouse for their first night together - suddenly, several years later, young Giosue runs out dragging his toy tank.
It isn't long before the major change occurs in the film, prefaced when Giosue asks, "Why aren't Jews or Dogs allowed in this shop?" His father replies, "Everybody does what they want to...There's a hardware store over there, they don't let Spanish people or horses in!"
Guido tries throughout the rest of the film to protect his son from hearing, seeing or understanding any of the anti-semitic prejudices of the time. This becomes very difficult when Guido and Giosue are taken, along with Uncle, and eventually Dora on the train to the concentration camp.
Guido pretends that travelling on a train is great fun, and that everyone is very eager to get on. When they arrive at the camp, Guido tells Giosue that it is all a big challenge, and that they could win a real tank if they get enough points from behaving well and working hard.
Perhaps it is the wrong thing to do, in pretending that none of the events concerning the Jews are wrong, but Guido manages to keep Giosue's spirits to a high level, keeping him ever-optimistic about winning the challenge - is that so bad?
Paradoxically, this film is very hard to watch, particularly in subsequent viewings, but is very compelling. It is incredibly sad, yet, is one of the funniest comedies you can find.
Perhaps the people that complained the most are those who haven't seen it. People are probably most likely to complain after hearing about a comedy about a jewish family in a death camp if they haven't actually witnessed how charming and funny is can actually be.
The prologue to the film is as follows, "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."
I don't think I could describe it as succinctly.
>Highlights
The way Guido talks in this film is great, from occasions when he jibber-jabbers away, sounding like some cartoon character talking pseudo-italian, to the way he pretends to be a visiting dignitary at the school, to the way in the second section of the film he explains to his son what is happening. Benigni showcases a diverse range of talents as an actor in this film, not to mention doing a very good job as a director. He co-wrote the film brilliantly, and as previously mentioned, some of the timing of set-pieces is superb.
The surprise ending is one of the most incredible endings I have ever seen. I don't think any ending of any film has had such an impact on me.
>Recommendation
I would advise anyone who likes comdey or who knows the plight of the Jews in WWII to watch this film. It's much more enjoyable than Schindler's List, it is of course funnier, and a LOT more moving, in that it shows a much more detailed human interest story - the plight and bravery of the Orefice family.
It has become one of my favourite films, and becomes harder and harder to watch each time. Watch it once though, and you'll be glad you did.
>DVD Extras
None - unless you count scene selection as an extra! The English subtitles are really helpful though!
>£
£6.99 from Play.com last year is what I paid. It was more than worth it.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Production Year: 2004 - Drama - Director: Nick Cassavetes - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over, 12 years and over - Starring: Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling, Gena Rowlands
Production Year: 2000 - Drama - Director: Giuseppe Tornatore - Original Language: Italian - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Monica Bellucci, Giuseppe Sulfaro, Luciano Federico, Matilde Piana
Superb review. You obviously love this film and so do I! I'm going to spend the seven quid on the DVD. Cheers. Pippa
Gildor_Inglorion 23.09.2005 06:51
Have to give an E for that, informative and well written my girlfriend raved about this for ages! I will need to make a more positive effort to securing a copy ... Gil
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Jul 5th, 2005
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