Life is Beautiful (Widescreen)

Italy's rubber-faced funnyman Roberto Benigni accomplishes the impossible in his World War II comedy Life Is Beautiful: he shapes a simultaneously hilarious and haunting comedy out of the tragedy of the Holocaust. An international sensation and the most successful foreign language film in U.S. history, the picture also earned director-cowriter-star Benigni Oscars for Best Foreign Language Film and Best Actor. He plays the Jewish country boy Guido, a madcap romantic in Mussolini's Italy who wins the heart of his sweetheart (Benigni's real-life sweetie, Nicoletta Braschi) and raises a darling son (the adorable Giorgio Cantarini) in the shadow of fascism. When the Nazis ship the men off to a concentration camp in the waning days of the war, Guido is determined to shelter his son from the evils around them and convinces him they're in an elaborate contest to win (of all things) a tank. Guido tirelessly maintains the ruse with comic ingenuity, even as the horrors escalate and the camp's population continues to dwindle--all the more impetus to keep his son safe, secure, and, most of all, hidden. Benigni walks a fine line mining comedy from tragedy and his efforts are pure fantasy--he accomplishes feats no man could realistically pull off--both of which have drawn fire from a few critics. Yet for all its wacky humor and inventive gags, Life Is Beautiful is a moving and poignant tale of one father's sacrifice to save not just his young son's life but his innocence in the face of one of the most evil acts ever perpetrated by the human race. --Sean Axmaker

Life is Beautiful caused more than a little controversy when it was released: any attempt to make comedy out of the Holocaust is going to inspire strong reactions from critics and audience members. Love it or loathe it, Life is Beautiful inarguably made an international star out of Italian comedian Roberto Benigni, who wrote, directed, and starred in it. One of his country's most celebrated comedians, Benigni was previously known for his work in numerous Italian comedies, as well as Johnny Stecchino and Jim Jarmusch's Down By Law and Night on Earth. Life is Beautiful's Grand Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival, followed by Benigni's Best Actor Oscar and acceptance speech (in exuberant, skillfully broken English), made Benigni possibly Italy's most famous export since the Fiat. Although some viewers found the film's second half, set almost entirely in a concentration camp, to be well-meaning but misguided, the film's first half is indisputably enjoyable. Revolving around the courtship of an aristocratic lady nicknamed the Principessa by Benigni's Guido, it makes a refreshing, elegantly hilarious love story. Somewhat ironically, the film's wittiest and most accurate commentary on fascism and religious oppression is contained here, rather than in the concentration camp setting. Benigni's comedy here becomes a tool for side-splitting yet razor-sharp criticism, and this first section powerfully establishes the reality of everyday life disrupted by the war. ~ Rebecca Flint Marx, All Movie Guide

"Making Life Beautiful" featurette
Academy Award TV commercials
Theatrical trailer
English-language track
Dolby Digital 5.1 audio
Widescreen [1.85:1]

In this WW II tragicomedy, famed Italian funnyman Roberto Benigni (The Monster) portrays Guido, who moves during the '30s from the country to a Tuscan town, where he is entranced by schoolteacher Dora (Nicoletta Braschi, Benigni's real-life wife). Dora likes Guido, but she remains faithful to her pompous fianc, so Guido has an uphill struggle. Meanwhile, anti-Semitic attitudes lead to attacks against Guido's Jewish uncle (Giustino Durano). Leaping ahead to five years later, during WW II, Guido and Dora are married and have a son Giosue (Giorgio Cantarini). After they are imprisoned in a concentration camp, Guido goes to elaborate lengths to keep his son from understanding the truth of their situation. He tells the boy that they are competing with others to win an armored tank -- so everything from food shortages to tattoos is explained as necessary for participation in the contest. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide

• Side #1
  • Set Up
    • Spoken Languages
    • Captions & Subtitles
  • Bonus Material
    • Theatrical Trailer
    • Making Life Beautiful (featurette)
    • Tv Spots
    • Film Recommendations
  • Play

Side #1
0. Chapter Selection
1. Program Start [:14]
2. "Good Morning, Princess!" [:12]
3. "We're In The City!" [3:31]
4. A Great Escape [3:31]
5. The New Waiter [1:42]
6. "Schopenhauer Willpower" [3:35]
7. "When I Suddenly Appear" [1:35]
8. "A Light Meal" [:27]
9. "The Superior Race" [2:12]
10. "Turn Around" [1:41]
11. Stealing The Princess [1:28]
12. Signs From Heaven [2:54]
13. The Jewish Horse [1:04]
14. A Wedding Announcement [4:37]
15. Two Became Three [2:26]
16. Grandma [5:05]
17. The Birthday Party [3:03]
18. "Where Are We Going?" [:50]
19. First Prize [3:07]
20. Learning The Rules [5:35]
21. The First Day [2:08]
22. The Showers [3:36]
23. The Doctor [2:54]
24. "Buttons & Soap" [2:04]
25. "For Life" [5:50]
26. "The Journey That Had To Be" [3:30]
27. End Credits [3:58]