Review of Life Is Beautiful (1997) by Jakub O — 26 Aug 2011

Roberto Benigni was borne to play Guido. The film works partly because of him. Because he effectively creates a situation in which comedy is courage. La Vita à Bella dares to find humor and tenderness in the midst of the Holocaust.

And that is where its true strength lies, in the combination of joy and sadness about its story. This is a film about a father that uses his only possible weapon (his humor) to protect his son from a cruel reality.

And that is why life is beautiful, because he rescues all hope for the future, hoping that things will be better for his son.