Life
is Beautiful (1998)
(aka
La Vita e bella)
Like
"Titanic" before it, "Life is Beautiful" is two films
in one. But where "Titanic" was half Harlequin romance,
half disaster film, this Italian film is laid out as
follows: The first half is one of the most imaginative
romantic comedies you will ever see. The second half
is a loving ode to fatherhood that is unsurpassed
in cinematic history.
Robert Benigni is masterful as a comedian and a romanticist.
His film is more than Chaplinesque, it is Chaplin incarnated.
The film begins as a wonderfully amusing and beautifully
sweet romantic comedy. What the script does in this
genre is so remarkable and so wondrous that it touches
us in a way that few films ever do. Benigni's comic
young man wins us over from the very first frame. He
is more than simply charming, he is clever, witty, sweet
and wonderful. We swoon. If this were all the film were
about, it would be more than enough. But there is much
more than this to be witnessed here, and for those of
us who know it is coming, it looms on the horizon almost
hidden, pushed to the back of our brain. We simply do
not want to think about it while we watch this charming
film.
Finally, when the first signs of it's arrival come to
us, we cringe in expectant fear. But the tentativeness
we feel is never justified. Benigni refuses to become
harsh here. His film, though not "Pollyanna" in tone,
is never graphic or bitter. The second half of the film,
set at a German concentration camp during WWII, is not
as jarring as we would expect. Benigni not only finds
moments of tenderness, but touching moments of
humanity as well. And there is more comedy also
but most of this is much more sweet and beautiful than
what has come before, if that is possible. It is in
this portion of the film where the relationship between
Benigni and his cinematic son is shown and it is nothing
short of brilliance. The second half of the film, like
the first, is too perfect, too wonderful and too inventive
to discuss. It is pure joy, even in it's most sober
moments. Yes, the truly remarkable thing to witness
here is Benigni's charming chemistry with the young
actor playing his son, Giorgio Cantarini. This youngster
is one remarkable child actor and his playfulness with
Benigni is simply heartwarming to view. It is rare to
find a parent/child relationship in films with this
much courage and this much tenderness and joy. It is
a sight to behold.
But alas, it is pointless to discuss script, acting,
characters or plot here because they are all wonderful
and they need to be seen to be enjoyed. All that is
left is the filmmaking. I will not lie, there are moments
in the film where realists and naysayers will trumpet,
"That could never happen!" There are several scenes
in the concentration camp which rely heavily on suspension
of disbelief. But you know what? If you are truly into
the beauty and the wonderment of the film, you won't
care! To the purists or the naysayers, I say "So what!"
This isn't a film about harsh realities as much as it
is a love letter to the beauty of life and love even
in the most troubling of times - especially in the most
troubling of times! Those seeking verisimilitude should
go elsewhere. Those seeking a artistic and monumental
cinematic experience will find utter nirvana.
Benigni may not be the most consummate of directors
either. His film has a "soundstage" feel to it on a
few occasions in the first half. But I want to believe
that Benigni intended this to be a homage to older films
from the WWII era, in which this one is set. It also
may pay tribute to Chaplin, whom Benigni emulates here,
though only subtly. The Chaplinesque quality makes one
long for Charlie's film "The Great
Dictator." This is a double bill that every school child
should have to see! Benigni makes all that happens on
screen distract from any qualms we may have about his
style.
I
have now decided it is futile to try and determine if
one picture is better than another. Although sometimes
this is obvious, other times it is not. Which is better
- "Life is Beautiful" or "Saving Private Ryan?" Who
can tell? Both have numerous merits and, although they
are set in the same era, both are vastly different films.
I defy anyone to say a negative thing about this film.
I will take them to task! I'm glad I don't have an Academy
ballot to fill out; I might not sleep for days. Benigni
is beautiful, love is beautiful, art is beautiful, film
is beautiful, and, yes, you bet, "Life is Beautiful!"
Notes: Filmed and released in Italy in 1997, in US in
1998.
In Italian with subtitles and German without. Also a
few sentences in English.
Written by Benigni and Vincenzo Cerami. Starring Benigni's
real life wife Nicoletta Braschi. Also with Horst Buckholtz.
Music by Nicola Piovani. The work of Offenbach (from
"Tales of Hoffman") is included and performed briefly
on screen.
The film was nominated for and won several awards including
Academy Awards.
When the film was shown at Cannes, it was edited slightly
differently and a Title Card was added to the beginning
stating "This is a Fairy Tale," apparently to avoid
controversy. When the film won at Cannes, Benigni kissed
the judges.
Benigni is only the 4th filmmaker to be nominated by
the Academy for Best Film, Best Actor, Best Director
and Best Screenplay, following Orson Welles ("Citizen
Kane"), Woody Allen ("Annie Hall") and Warren Beatty
("Reds").
More
of Lodger's reviews indexed alphabetically! Just click
your favorite letter to go there.
a
b c
d e
f g
h i
j k
l m
n o
p q
r s
t u
v w
x y
z
HOME
|
In
Association with:
|
Posters From!
|
|
Please Visit 
|
|
