Italian
filmmaker Roberto Benigni scores on every level with this film that takes place
during the Holocaust. Not as brutal as Steven Spielberg's Schindler's List but
every bit as effective, Life Is Beautiful is a tremendous piece of filmmaking
about love, family, and the power of imagination.
Benigni--who
also wrote and directed--plays a high-spirited bookstore owner who, with unmatched
imagination, attempts to shield his son from the horrors of a concentration camp
by pretending that it's a game. Every aspect of this film works, particularly
the balance of sheer dramatic power and laugh-out-loud comedy that magnificently
comes together for an unforgettable movie experience. There is also a wonderful
love story between Benigni's character and a school teacher, played by his real
wife Nicoletta Braschi.
Benigni
has fashioned a poetic epic that is overflowing with originality and wonderful
performances. It's an inspirational tale about how the imagination can conquer
all. Life Is Beautiful and so is this movie!
