Roberto Benigni
Life Is Beautiful
When an open-minded Jewish waiter and his son become victims of the Holocaust, he uses a perfect mixture of will, humor and imagination to protect his son from the dangers around their camp.
- Director: Roberto Benigni
- Main Cast: Roberto Benigni, Nicoletta Braschi, Giorgio Cantarini, Giustino Durano
- Soundtrack: Nicola Piovani
- Cinematography: Tonino Delli Colli
- Screenplay: Roberto Benigni, Vincenzo Cerami
Production year: 1997
Cinema Premiere: February 12, 1999
Foreign Reviews
5 foreign reviews of Life Is Beautiful (1997)
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4 / 5
Translated from swedish: Objecting to the often silly tone feels somewhat pointless, because I find it hard to imagine how "Life Is Beautiful" could have worked at all if it had been pulled toward more "serious" territory. What's absolutely clear, however, is that Benigni isn't trying to joke away the Holocaust, but rather using the event to test a thesis: can you find a laugh and some joy even in the deepest darkness? The attempt feels, despite the antics, strangely dignified and altogether very much worth watching.
- Anders LindahlSwedish: russin.nu »
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4 / 6
Translated from swedish: While I'm not seething with indignation over his handling of this difficult subject matter, the overwhelmingly positive reception everywhere seems a bit strange. The film simply isn't that amazingly funny or insightful.
Swedish: ng.se »
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3 / 5
Translated from swedish: "Life Is Beautiful" is original, funny, gripping - but I still often get annoyed by Benigni's overacting. Just imagine how much better the film could have been if director Benigni had given actor Benigni a little valium before each take.
- Jan-Olov AnderssonSwedish: aftonbladet.se »
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2 / 5
Translated from swedish: I don't know if I completely missed the point, since obviously many people really love this movie. But I felt like the first half really dragged on and was uninteresting and slow.
- Linus AndersenSwedish: cinetaste.se »
Lists
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Box Office
Life Is Beautiful has earned a total of 230 099 013 dollars from cinemas across the world (the global box office).
1. Moviezine
Translated from swedish: It celebrates the love within a family, people's incredible willpower, and it calls for compassion for those who have suffered, and those who still suffer. "Life Is Beautiful" won't let us forget what happened, and it's painful – and necessary.
- Sofie Eliasson
Swedish: moviezine.se »