Life is Beautiful

Life is Beautiful is an Italian film of 1997 directed by Roberto Benigni. He not only wrote
the story line along with, Vicenzo Cerami, but he was also in the main cast playing Guido
Orefice. Benignis wife and co-star, Nicoletta Braschi, played the wife of Guido named Dora.
Giorgio Cantarini, who was at the age of 5 when the film was screened, played Giosu, the son
of Guido and Dora. The film revolved around these 3 main characters in the 2 parts it had one
of romance and humour while the other part was a tragedy with a hint of comedy. The transition
from one story to another was pretty peculiar for this was not at all expected. Though,
nevertheless, the film is definitely worth your time and attention. It is quite outstanding with all
its different elements that combined to produce a remarkable film. It is far more noteworthy than
that the typical amusing love story because of its transition from to a tragic historical situation
and Guidos sacrifice for his loved ones. With the films transition from a love story to a
historical situation, it has the power to move the viewer into thinking about the irony of the title.
How can life really be beautiful and how is it related to the film?
The film begins with a quirky plot about a Jewish man, Guido and his attempts of trying
to win this woman, Dora over. Guido then wins the heart of Dora and eventually, they have a
child named Giosu. This part of the film tricks the viewer into believing that it's nothing more
than a romantic comedy when in fact, the second part of the film shows a very tragic part of the
World War II wherein the Germans put the Jews in a Nazi concentration camp. Despite the
adversity for the Jews in the camp, Guido tries to constructs a make-believe world for Giosu
wherein the concentration camp is the site of a game. As hard as the tasks in the camp get, Guido
still remained hopeful and happy for his son and maybe also himself for refusing to believe the
tragedy happening.
Guidos character and how he views and handles the hardest and one of the most
depressing situations, represent the beauty of life. As he uses his whimsical ways of courtship to
win Dora over, he bends the circumstances to his plans. He remained positive hopeful for his son
in the concentration camp. The film is about love and family and the strength of both in the face
of obstacles, no matter how extreme. It gives you an idea that you are able to make life whatever
you want it to be which makes it a beautiful thing. Life may have its down sides but this film
reminds us that we have total control of how we want our lives to be.
The films impact left a positive mark on many of the people who have watched this. The
unexpected plot twist and the plot itself are two of the major details that make this film
unforgettable. Despite the dramatic change of setting from the first part to the second part, the
film is still about devotion and family relationships. It does not cease to be a love story. Its heartwarming scenes from the very start of the film can easily influence a person to view life as

something beautiful. The peculiar and unique beginning of courtship, the tragic yet humorous
plot in the camp, to the bittersweet death of Guido, it all summed up to make a great film that
will withstand the test of time.