Life Is Beautiful (1997)
La vita è bella (original title)

A Jewish man has a wonderful romance with the help of his humour, but must use that same quality to protect his son in a Nazi death camp.

Directors:

Roberto Benigni, Rod Dean

Writers:

Vincenzo Cerami (story), Roberto Benigni (story)

Stars:

Roberto Benigni, Nicoletta Braschi, Giorgio Cantarini

Top 250 #51 | Won 3 Oscars. Another 55 wins & 31 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Roberto Benigni	...	Guido
Nicoletta Braschi	...	Dora
Giorgio Cantarini	...	Joshua
Giustino Durano	...	Uncle Eliseo
Sergio Bini Bustric	...	Ferruccio (as Sergio Bustric)
Marisa Paredes	...	Dora's Mother
Horst Buchholz	...	Doctor Lessing (as Horst Bucholz)
Giuliana Lojodice	...	School Principal
Amerigo Fontani	...	Rodolfo
Pietro De Silva	...	Bartolomeo
Francesco Guzzo	...	Vittorino
Raffaella Lebboroni	...	Elena
Claudio Alfonsi	...	Rodolfo's Friend
Gil Baroni	...	Prefect
Massimo Bianchi	...	Man with Key

Storyline

In 1930s Italy, a carefree Jewish book keeper named Guido starts a fairy tale life by courting and marrying a lovely woman from a nearby city. Guido and his wife have a son and live happily together until the occupation of Italy by German forces. In an attempt to hold his family together and help his son survive the horrors of a Jewish Concentration Camp, Guido imagines that the Holocaust is a game and that the grand prize for winning is a tank.

---

Plot Keywords:

Jewish | Tank | Italy | Waiter | Restaurant | 

---

Taglines:

An unforgettable fable that proves love, family and imagination conquer all.

---

Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance | War

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for holocaust-related thematic elements

Details

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian German English

Release Date:

12 February 1999 (USA)

Also Known As:

Life Is Beautiful

Filming Locations:

Ronciglione, Viterbo, Lazio, Italy

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

£87,818 (UK) (12 February 1999)

Gross:

$57,598,247 (USA) (1 October 1999)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cecchi Gori Group Tiger Cinematografica, Melampo Cinematografica, Cecchi Gori Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

116 min 118 min (English dubbed)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In Italian, the answer to the "Snow White" riddle is seven "minuti" - a play on words between "minutes" and "dwarves".

---

Goofs

Just before Guido is caught by the spotlight at the end of the movie, a woman belonging to the group of Jews being deported smiles to the camera.

---

Quotes

[first lines]
Giosué Orefice: [narrating as an adult] This is a simple story... but not an easy one to tell.

---

Connections

Featured in The 79th Annual Academy Awards (2007)

---

Soundtracks

"Beautiful that way"
(uncredited)
Written by Nicola Piovani and Noa
Performed by Noa

User Reviews

One of the Best Movies I've Ever Seen

The first time I saw the movie was when I was about seventeen or so, and I never forgot it. The incredibly human characters (such as the doctor who loved riddles), the fantastic script-writing, the amazing acting, and of course the heartwarming story. This movie proves once and for all how strong we are, as humans, that in the face of adversity we can make the best of things. There is so much love in the characters; Dora's love for her husband Guido is boundless, as well as Guido's love for his son. Sure, it's a slightly unrealistic movie, but hey, aren't they all a little unrealistic? I've also seen people review this movie and say that it made light of the Holocaust, which was of course a dark point in history. I don't think so; I think that it's only delicately handled, and because of that, the movie is one that a person can watch in one sitting without being thoroughly disgusted by mankind. I would say that those who think this movie is too "light" are cynical and bitter. The whole point to the movie is to show what love is capable of, and to provide encouragement and perhaps guidance. This movie changed my life from the first time I watched it. I came away with this feeling that no matter what I have to face in life, that I can overcome it. This is a movie that I would recommend to anyone over the age of eleven. The acting is superb (though Roberto Benigni is a little over-the-top, LOL), the story heartwarming and easy to understand. It's excellent!