If the sound of a film that has ‘sharp comedy’ and a ‘heartrending’ story but also ‘crushing revelations’ intrigues you, we’ve got your next watch sorted.
While released in 1997, Life Is Beautiful still receives high praise from viewers today – and it’s now available on Amazon Prime Video, so you can find out why.
Directed by and starring Roberto Benigni, the period comedy-drama tells the story of a Jewish Italian bookshop owner who goes to imaginative lengths to shield his son from the horrors of war.
The film begins in 1939, when Guido Orefice (Benigni) is working as a waiter. He meets Dora (Nicoletta Braschi), a pretty schoolteacher, and steals her heart with his charm and humour.
After marrying, they welcome a son, Giosue (Giorgio Cantarini), and the couple run a bookstore together.
The story then jumps to 1944 at the height of World War II, when Nazi Germany occupied Northern Italy.
All of a sudden, their family’s blissful happiness is brought to a halt when Guido and Giosue are separated from Dora and taken to a concentration camp.
Employing his creativity and wit, Guido convinces Giosue that the camp is just a game in a bid to protect him from the dangerous reality.
What follows, as viewers have praised, is a deeply touching depiction of ‘hope’ and ‘the human spirt’ – and one gut-punch of a reveal in the final moment.
Life Is Beautiful boasts an 80% score from critics on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, while audiences have decided it’s close to perfect, giving it 96% overall.
Among the comments, Mike Massie from Gone With The Twins applauds the film’s ‘monumental’ last act, while Fico Cangiano of CineXpress Podcast says: ‘Benigni’s infectious energy and sharp comedic talents deliver a beautiful message of hope and love amongst such horror and tragedy.’
‘Exceptional, well-crafted, uplifting,’ echoes a review from Christian Science Monitor, as Chris Gore of Film Threat promises: ‘Audiences will be laughing hysterically while crying their eyes out.’
Others compare it to iconic war films like Schindler’s List, and describe the story as ‘bittersweet’.
As for audiences, @Donald290 calls it a ‘unique masterpiece’, and @MateoVLSa writes: ‘Honestly, one of the best films that portrays family love even in times of war like the Holocaust.’
‘A heartbreaking yet inspiring film. It left me sad, but also hopeful in the best way,’ pens @Tarun368.
While it drew some criticism for historical inaccuracies, Life Is Beautiful was both a major critical and commercial success upon its release.
It grossed $230million (£171m) worldwide, which included $57.6m (£43m) in the US, making it the second-highest-grossing foreign-language film in the States after Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000).
And when awards season came around, it took home three Oscars, including best foreign language film.
Benigni also won best actor for his lead role, becoming the first male non-English-language performer to win in the category.
As he made his way to the stage to collect his trophy, Benigni jumped on top of the seats in a joyous display, joking when he went to deliver his second acceptance speech: ‘This is a terrible mistake because I used up all my English!’
Now aged 73, the filmmaker’s career boasts a string of credits, his other roles including comedy films Nothing Left to Do But Cry (1984), The Little Devil (1988), Johnny Stecchino (1991), The Monster (1994), Pinocchio (2002), and The Tiger and the Snow (2005).
He’s also a singer-songwriter, having released a compilation album.
Life Is Beautiful is now streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
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