An unforgettable fable that proves love, family and imagination conquer all.|Dec. 20, 1997|Italy|116 Min.|PG-13
Genre: Comedy;Drama
Description: In 1939, in the Kingdom of Italy, Guido Orefice, a young Jewish man, arrives in the city of Arezzo in Tuscany to work at his uncle Eliseo’s restaurant. Guido, known for his wit and humor, falls in love with a Christian woman named Dora. Despite her engagement to a wealthy but arrogant government official, Guido devises a series of “coincidental” encounters to express his feelings. Eventually, Dora recognizes Guido’s sincerity and leaves her fiancé, running off with Guido. The couple marries, has a son named Giosuè, and opens a bookstore together.
When World War II breaks out, and Nazi Germany occupies Northern Italy in 1944, Guido, Eliseo, and Giosuè are arrested on Giosuè’s birthday. Along with many other Jews, they are transported to a concentration camp. Dora, determined to stay with her family, voluntarily boards the train but is separated from them upon arrival. Throughout their internment, Guido creatively uses the camp’s loudspeakers to send reassuring messages to Dora, while shielding his son from the grim reality by framing their ordeal as a game.
Eliseo tragically perishes in a gas chamber shortly after their arrival. Giosuè narrowly escapes the same fate, as he avoids the gas chambers due to his aversion to showers. Guido continues to protect his son, maintaining the illusion that their survival depends on following the rules of the “game.”
This poignant tale intertwines humor and tragedy, showcasing the resilience of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable hardship.
Cast director: Roberto Benigni
Cast actor: Roberto Benigni, Nicoletta Braschi, Giorgio Cantarini, Giustino Durano, Amerigo Fontani, Sergio Bini Bustric, Lidia Alfonsi, Horst Buchholz, Pietro De Silva, Marisa Paredes
Original name: La vita è bella