Few films have kept me on the verge of tears as long as "Life Is Beautiful." Italian star Roberto Benigni directed and starred in this touching, depressing, and amazing film. With some of his recent disasters, it's easy to forget how powerful Benigni's film truly is, and about the message it says. It won several Oscars, including Best Foreign Film and Best Actor.

Benigni rightfully won that best actor statuette by playing Guido, an Jewish Italian waiter in the 1930s with a heart of gold and a boundless imagination. The first half of the film is a delightful romantic comedy about Guido's attempt tp romance a schoolteacher. He goes through a series of strange (and very funny) situations. He eventually gets the girl. The film makes a drastic change soon. Guido and his family are rounded up by the Nazis and shipped to a concentration camp. Guido attempts to hide the horrors of the camps from his son by pretending it's all an elaborate game, and if they follow the rules, they will get first prize.

I had tears in my eyes throughout the entire second half of this film, and eventually broke down at the end. I cried through the credits...it was amazing. This is one of the greatest films ever made. Some may argue that turning the Holocaust into a fable is wrong, but when it is told this honestly, this emotionally, and this powerfully, one can only watch in awe.

The second best film of 1998 (sorry, "Saving Private Ryan" still tops it), and one of the best of all time. This is an important film.

© Written by Jacob Hall

How We Rated This Film TC Candler - A+ Richard Propes - A- Jacob Hall - A

TC Candler's Comment

A superb masterpiece... One of the loveliest films of all time.

Richard Propes' Comment

The world certainly got caught up in "Life is Beautiful," Roberto Benigni's hopeful and inspirational tale of family and love and hope within Nazi Germany. I'm certainly not one of those who was completely swept up in the experience of this film, though I definitely found it inspirational and a wonderful, positive movie experience. Benigni directed the film, co-wrote the script and stars in the film...so, basically, it's his baby...perhaps it is his masterpiece in life...knowing that he followed this with a horrendous interpretation of Pinocchio. This is definitely a polarizing film...I can understand why some might not care for it.

Benigni was a relative surprise as winner of Best Actor for his role here...and, truthfully, I question how much acting was involved...the role seems very much in line with his personality...The film also won Best Foreign Language Film and Best Original Dramatic Score...The film was nominated for four other Oscars including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay and Best Editing.

The film held up nicely to a second viewing...in fact, I enjoyed it more the second time. There were little moments that I seemed to notice that enhanced my enjoyment tremendously. For this reason, I move the film up a notch from B+ to an A-. If you are seeking a film with a realistic, dramatic approach to the holocaust...this is probably not your film. This film takes the despair and hopelessness and seeks to find the light within it...some will argue with the appropriateness...yet, in my eyes...finding the light in the darkest times is a noble cause and one this film meets beautifully.