La Vita e Bella (Life is Beautiful), written and directed by as well as staring Roberto Benigni, is a mixed bag of emotion that can’t help but grab the viewer by the wrist and take them along for a journey unlike any other. You hear that old line, “You’ll laugh! You’ll cry!” well, this is one of the few movies I have seen where that line really does ring true. This light hearted romantic comedy will bring a smile to your face, and then touch you on a very disturbing level, brining fresh tears to replace the smiles. Don’t let the subtitles of this foreign film scare you away. Benigni’s La Vita e Bella is a triumph of the human spirit, showing us that amidst the chaos and uncertainties, life is indeed beautiful.
Benigni stars as Guido, an eccentric man who is heading to the city to live and work for his uncle along with his friend. Along the way he meets a woman, Dora, whom he calls Princess, because he thinks she is the most beautiful women he has ever seen. Guido is like an Italian breath of fresh air! He is always happy, always joking and having a good time. As he and his friend adjust to life in the city, he is always looking on the brightest side of life he can find. As the days go by, he has multiple chance encounters with his princess, Dora. In trying to catch her heart, Guido does what he can to continue these brief encounters.
The first half of the film is almost solely devoted to Guido’s attempting to get the attention of Dora. Benigni, while rather eccentric at times, delivers an outstanding performance as the lovable Guido, developing him as a character that loves life, and is a man of deep passions. In the background of sentimental love story is the development of Nazi influences in Italy. Few and subtle instances at first are demonstrated offering a bleak contrast to the sentimentality that is abundant in the growing relationship of Guido and Nora.
The second act of the film fast forwards the story a few years and focuses on Guido, Nora, and their young boy, Giosue. World War 2 is now at this time in full swing, and the Nazi influence in Italy is felt in much more abundance. Guido, who is a Jew, and Giouse are both rounded up and taken to a concentration camp. In an attempt to protect his son from the horrors that are happening around them, Guido explains their whole situation as a big game, with rules that Giouse has to follow in order to win a prize at the end.
One of the most touching things for me in the film was the unwavering of the character of Guido. Even in their awful circumstance, he continued with his same cheery disposition in front of his son, continually telling him stories, and joking around to protect his boy from the harsh realities. Even in the midst of the hell they find themselves in, Guido still displays the beauty of life to his son. This continuation of his light hearted antics in the midst of such horror only deepened the emotional response that the film got out of me! To see this father demonstrate such love and concern for his child hit a chord with me.
Though leaving the film with mixed feelings and emotions, one does feel that life really is beautiful. There is beauty and joy to be seen around us. The central message can definitely be seen as the value of family. During times of trials and heartache, it is the ones we love who sustain us, who see us through to the end. If we allow ourselves to love and be loved, nothing can take that bond away. As I said, La Vita e Bella takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions, but it is a ride you will be happy you took. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and it is up to you if you want to wallow in the sorrows around you, or if you want to see that life is truly beautiful.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment