Life is Beautiful

Roberto Benigni’s “Life Is Beautiful” (1998) had a terrific run with critics and audiences. First, it won the Grand Jury Prize at the Cannes, followed by an Academy Award for the Best Foreign film, with Benigni bagging the Best Actor award. The box-office success in the U.S. was astonishing, too, especially for a non-English movie. Benigni, who was the leading star in Italy at the time, immediately shot to fame with this film. You can forgive Benigni for creating “Pinocchio” (2002), which has a rating of 0% with the Rotten Tomatoes critics, and that also appears in the list of all-time worst movies. Nonetheless, “Life Is Beautiful” succeeds because Benigni beautifully mixes humor against the backdrop of the Holocaust without offending anyone. The film almost becomes a satire that is driven through the eyes of a young boy. There are not many films that can explain the horrific events of the Holocaust to a young audience, and Benigni’s Oscar-winning film is one such film.

Basically, the film’s plot is divided into two segments. In the first phase, we meet a carefree, Italian-Jewish, Guido (Roberto Benigni) after his arrival in an Italian town of Arezzo. He aspires to open a bookstore in the town and works as a waiter at his uncle’s restaurant. He is a full of life, a cheerful individual who impresses people with his sense of humor. He falls for a young schoolteacher, Dora (Nicolleta Braschi), who is from a well-off family. Guido tries everything in his power to impress Dora, and she finds herself charmed by Guido, in spite of an initial reluctance. Meanwhile, Dora’s mother is keen that Dora marry a social figure. This forces Dora to elope with Guido, and several years later we see them as a couple with a young son, Giosuè (Giorgio Cantarini), and Guido finally has a bookstore.

In the second phase of the story, we see the Germans occupying the town of Arezzo and sending its residents to a concentration camp. Guido’s family is sent to the camp as well. Upon arriving at the camp, Giosuè starts complaining about the deplorable living conditions. In order to take Giosuè’s mind off the actual reality at the camp, Guido tells Giosuè that they are playing a game, and the first person to score a thousand points will get a tank. From that point onward, Giosuè obediently follows Guido’s instructions, and along the way, Guido devises a plan to free his family.

Benigni’s “Life Is Beautiful” has its share of lovers and haters. Critics complained that Benigni’s film misses the point by ignoring the inhumane treatment of Jews during the Holocaust. Moreover, the comedy undermines the tragedy, and to some extent it ridicules the “abused” by showing them as puppets. While some criticism is spot on, I don’t agree with the latter. Benigni respectfully develops a story through the eyes of Guido and Giosuè. He keeps a tight control on the comedy aspect that never turns into a political statement or just a bizarre set of comedy sequences slapped together. We do see the Germans ill-treating the Jews, but it is never as explicit as we have seen in other Holocaust movies. Benigni sets the tone early on, and his intentions are pretty clear, and even when Guido’s life is swept away by a life-changing event, Benigni superbly manages to balance the emotions through the larger-than-life characters. The melodrama is implied through the characters but never shows up on their faces. The characters are optimistic about their survival, with Guido pulling an unbelievable act. I call it a heist.

Benigni wanted the story seen through a young boy’s eyes. Guido’s comedic visual imagery in describing the conditions at the camp acts as a vocabulary for any parent who is trying to explain the Holocaust to a young one.  In some aspects, Benigni’s storytelling approach in “Life Is Beautiful” resembles Chaplin’s “The Last Dictator.” Both films touch on a controversial topic, and yet they manage to present a bright face on life. That, in fact, is the core message conveyed in “Life Is Beautiful.” Guido’s character relishes every moment, and he beautifies life even in the face of a tragedy.

The first half of the film is a tribute to a well-known Italian director, Federico Fellini, and it works as a slapstick comedy that also prompts comparison to a slapstick maestro, Charlie Chaplin. The scrumptious Italian characters of “Life Is Beautiful” and their lifestyle reminded me of Fellini‘s “Amarcord” (1973).  Benigni’s characters might not be as quirky as Fellini’s characters, but they still represent the Italian pre-war era of the Forties. Moreover, Benigni captures the essence of a small Italian town as we witness closed social settings and festive moods all around. From a structural standpoint, Benigni’s film falls outside the Neorealism spectrum that was mastered by the early Italian directors like Roberto Rossellini and Vittorio De Sica. There is nothing remotely realistic about Guido’s story, and, in fact, it’s a sugarcoated fantasy.

However, the film has problems, too. The first half drags a little, and story-wise the film doesn’t progress much. The supporting characters are never fleshed out, since the focus remains solely on Guido. A few comedy moments in the first half were simply childish and irritating. It is very difficult to watch the second half without glossing over the real issue of the Holocaust. I understand what Benigni is trying to accomplish, but it somewhat underplays the tragedy. There is no doubt the comedy in the later half is intelligent, especially with Benigni’s amazing comic timing. Despite the issues, “Life Is Beautiful” is a testament on how to appreciate life, and its message reverberates with hope.

Video:

The film has been available on Blu-ray in Europe and Canada, but this is the film’s first release on Blu-ray in the U.S. through Lionsgate. “Life Is Beautiful” arrives on Blu-ray via an AVC codec, framed in an aspect ratio of 1.85:1. The 1080p transfer surely improves on the previous DVD release. The Italian cityscape with old buildings and architecture looks beautiful. The image might not be as sharp as one would hope, but it nevertheless stays consistent throughout. The buildings have nice detail and the long shots are crisp looking. In a few scenes, Benigni has employed soft focus to present a fantasy-like picture. The close-ups reveal good detail, too. Flesh tones are realistic and never appear washed out. I think the grain is reduced, but the DNR is never distracting. Finally, the print is free of any blemishes.

Audio:

In the audio department, we get an Italian 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio track. Nicola Piovani’s Oscar-winning score comes to life in this track. The rear channels are triggered during the emotional scenes, providing an arena-like effect. The dialogue is crisp, clear, and audible throughout.  Mostly a dialogue-driven affair, the film is driven mainly by the front channels.

Extras:

There are not many extras included in this release. First, we get a regular “Making Life Beautiful” featurette, in which the actors and director talk about the story, characters, and locations.  Next, there are a number of Academy Awards TV commercials, followed by a theatrical trailer.

Parting Thoughts:

I can see why “Life Is Beautiful” is rated so high. It’s a charming tale for a young audience, plus, it connects with its message about life. The optimism exhibited by the protagonists is remarkable, even at the sight of an imminent death. Having said this, the first half feels overly long, but the film shines in the second half, primarily because of Benigni’s imagination in building comedy sequences. Generally, Benigni’s fairy-tale approach makes for an interesting premise. The Blu-ray offers a definite upgrade with a good-looking transfer, a perfect-sounding audio track, and an affordable price.