Roberto Benigni, Nicoletta Braschi, and Giorgio Cantarini
Life is Beautiful, it really, really is.
I know that this isn't anyware near a recent release, and that it isn't even playing in most places around the country... but when I went to this wonderful film (and this really needs to be called a film) I couldn't help but make sure to tell all of you (my loyal fans... yeah right) about it. I was probably like you when I saw Roberto Benigni walking over the seats at the Oscars and said "Who is this goofy guy?" and "Why is he getting it for a foreign film?," but after watching Life is Beatiful I realize why it got all the attention.
Guido (Roberto Benigni) and Dora (Nicolleta Braschi)
As this film begins it is the mid to late 1930's Guido Orefice (Roberto Benigni) is drving through the Italian countryside while moving to the city. Along the way Guido runs into Dora (Nicoletta Braschi) and falls in love with her. As the first half of the film goes on Guido takes every opportunity to run into her "by accident" and eventually wins her over with his remarkable charm. We then flash forward about six or seven years as Guido and Dora are chasing their son Giosué (Giorgio Cantarini) through their garden. Guido now owns his own book store (which was his dream when he came to the city) and Dora is like a headmistress at her school. Everything is going great, except that there is a Nazi occupation in Italy and Guido is Jewish. As Guido and Giosué are taken away to the concentration camp Dora (who was not Jewish) demands to go with them. Rather then allow his child to be scarred for life (as short as that life might be) Guido convinces Giosué that the whole thing is a game and whoever gets to 1000 points wins a tank (Giosué really likes tanks, his favorite toy is a toy tank). Like hiding from the guards who are coming to give the children "showers" (I hope I don't need to tell you what that means) is worth like 25 points and when Giosué asks where he goes all day (to do backbreaking later) he tells him that he goes to build the tank. Luckily Guido saves his child until the end of the war, but the real test is when the Germans start destroying the "evidence" before the Allies arive.
The adorable Giorgio Cantarini as the adorable Giosué
The plot is simple, the experience is impossible to describe. First of all, as weird as he seems, Roberto Benigni is spectacular. He definitely deserved the Oscar for Best Actor, and if I had seen this movie last year he would have gotten the "Mikey" Award for Best Actor as well. He has an incredible screen presence and a fantastic comedic persona. He just has the natural ability to make you laugh at whatever he does, no matter what... even when he is in the Nazi work camp every thing he does is funny. Let me just put it this way, if I had seen Life is Beautiful last year, it would have completely swept my "Mikey" Awards... it blew The Truman Show Away and Roberto is truely a cinematic genius, and I hope he makes more movies like this. I can't describe how great this movie is, just take my word for it. If you still have the opportunity to see it (at any time of day, any day of the week, anywhere near you) take it... I swear you won't be disappointed.
