Life Is Beautiful

Miramax Films | Release Date: October 23, 1998

7.8	USER SCORE Generally favorable reviews based on 369 Ratings

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nicksantucciFeb 11, 2019

I would rate the film Life Is Beautiful a six out of ten. This is because the Main Character Guido (Bengini), plays his role very as a clown trying to protect his son from the horrors of the holocaust. This does not give the appropriateI would rate the film Life Is Beautiful a six out of ten. This is because the Main Character Guido (Bengini), plays his role very as a clown trying to protect his son from the horrors of the holocaust. This does not give the appropriate respect the for people affected by the Holocaust. Joshua plays an excellent roll as a innocent child blind from the Horrors of the Holocaust. I would recommend this to my family because it gives the respect it deserves to Holocaust survivors while at the same time Guido makes it a comedy. When Joshua is hiding in the metal box and Guido is being taken by the SS officer he does a funny march protect Joshua from what is really going on.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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auburnnJan 16, 2018

While this film tells a touching story, its comedic effects, oversimplifying nature and dramatic processing undermine historical accuracy severely. Its portrayal of interwar Italy is mostly idyllic, showcasing stately architectures andWhile this film tells a touching story, its comedic effects, oversimplifying nature and dramatic processing undermine historical accuracy severely. Its portrayal of interwar Italy is mostly idyllic, showcasing stately architectures and carefree people. Paying little heed to profound political, social and economic problems in interwar Italy, Life Is Beautiful indicates antisemitism as the sole reason for the rise of fascism. In reality, fascism came to Italy 4 years after the end of Great War. In light of unstable constitutional monarchy and fragmented political parties, the chief agenda of National Fascist Party of Italy included expansion of Italian territories. The most serious problem of Life Is Beautiful, however, is its misleading representation of concentration camps. Virtually no one sheds blood in the film, the greatest horror being a blurred version of piled bodies. The film leaves the audience with such an impression that the imprisoned merely suffered from doing heavy physical labors. In reality, however, in an environment where lack of food and water was common and any negligence could cause public punishment, the imprisoned were deprived of human dignity (Levi, 1986, p. 47, p. 117). Holocaust memories apparently contradict with the movie plots that Guido and Joshua are in good spirit and that Guido often disrespects the officers. Overall, Life Is Beautiful compromises historical accuracy for a simple story and a clear moral message. Just as the opening line states, “like a fable, there is sorrow; like a fable, it is full of wonder and happiness,” this movie reduces history to a lighthearted fable. It may be educational or inspirational, but the misrepresentation of interwar Italy and concentration camps reveals historical ignorance and cultural insensitivity.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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04mdaspinFeb 8, 2019

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The film Life is Beautiful is a well-thought-out film. The actors in the movie were great. For example, the wife (Dora) was an amazing caring wife and mother. She was not Jewish and was willing to go to the concentration camps just to be with her family. Giorgio Cantarini is just a little boy who really pulled off the role of Joshua. Yet, considering that some parts of the movie is not historically accurate and has a little too much humor, I would not suggest this movie to others if they were going to watch it to learn about the Holocaust. An example of too much humor would be when the father (Guido) was marching around being silly in front of his son, but the next thing that happened was his death. However, if people want an idea of the Holocaust without any gory scenes or anything scarring I would suggest this movie.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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idek12Feb 8, 2019

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I think life is beautiful is a good movie but the problem does not give a lot of details about the Holocaust. The movie should have had more sense that should us what actually happened yes there was the same parts but if there were more it would be great. Sense like what did the Nazi do when they first came here and how did they get them to more to constrain camps. I feel that the movie was just was just a joke because it seems like the Guido took something as a joke but some part should help just to keep his kid safe. It felt like the Jew were only in the Holocaust for like 2 weeks.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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HuntedAlien69Feb 8, 2019

The movie was only ok because it only showed some aspects of the Holocaust not the whole thing. There were also some parts that they made jokes that weren't supposed to make jokes, such as when they were going onto the train the dad wasThe movie was only ok because it only showed some aspects of the Holocaust not the whole thing. There were also some parts that they made jokes that weren't supposed to make jokes, such as when they were going onto the train the dad was joking that they were going someplace nice. Even though Joshua knew that they weren’t going someplace that was nice, he played along, hoping that everything would be fine. Still, Guido, the father, did the right thing by not telling Joshua the truth. Joshua probably wouldn’t take it well if Guido told him that they were in a concentration camp. By not telling him the truth, Guido protected him from the horrors of the camp.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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ExKingJan 20, 2014

i watched this movie not knowing what it's about, Honestly i just read the title and decided to watch it,
and i had few laughs at the first hour, and i was convinced that this is a comedy movie with small events, kinda dumb comedy likei watched this movie not knowing what it's about, Honestly i just read the title and decided to watch it,
and i had few laughs at the first hour, and i was convinced that this is a comedy movie with small events, kinda dumb comedy like Chaplin movies, and it wasn't until the last half hour of the movie that i realized that this movie about the holocaust and i was completely shocked by the fact that the movie just took a different path and i started to get mad because there was no signs of this happening, i might missed the word "Jews" on the book store door but that was it.
and the terrible part is that they didn't even take the events that's been going on seriously,
i do realize it's about the love between a father and his son, but the movie doesn't get any serious and start addressing things at all, and i was completely shocked by the fact that the main character just got killed and the movie didn't even show a little remorse for it, i felt so stupid.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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