The theme for this month’s issue is “humor,” and saying that
Life is Beautiful is a comedy would be a lie - but so would saying it’s
a full-fledged drama. It exists in a wonderful equilibrium between the two, and
it’s truly one of the most heart-warming films that I’ve seen. The title says
it all: life is beautiful.
The film is constructed in two distinct parts. The first takes place in Italy,
as the main character (Guido) uses his humorous nature to woo the woman of his
dreams, despite the fact that she is engaged. The two are eventually married
and have a young boy, named Giosué.
The second part begins as, Guido—who is Jewish—and his son
are taken off to a Nazi work camp after Germany’s conquest of Italy. His wife, Dora,
chooses to go with them, despite the fact that she is not Jewish. It is there
in the work camp where the film’s most touching scenes take place. Guido uses
the same humorous nature that wooed his wife to keep his son happy, convincing
him that the camp is a game and that the first person to get one thousand
points wins a real tank. This happiness and optimistic nature in spite of all
odds creates a strange feeling in the viewer. As we see groups of children and elderly
people being rounded up to be slaughtered, Guido tells his son that they lost
the game and are going home. His son is completely oblivious to the truth, and
his ignorance provides a light compared to the atrocities going on around them.
The film does not mention God in any way, but Guido’s nature can only come from
an external hope; whether this hope is in his own life after death or his son’s
continued existence is the real question. Regardless, his actions are an
example to all of us. Few will ever experience such evil as Guido and his
family did, yet they managed to stay optimistic. How much more can we stay
positive in the small conflicts of our daily lives? As to Guido’s lying to his
son, which do you think is better: giving your child hope for the future and
happiness because of his ignorance or explaining the truth to him and having
him live in fear for the remainder of his life?
Content wise, the film shows little of the actual violence that exists in the
camp. We see the surrounding through the eyes of Guido’s son and thus
experience the hope that his son had. There are so many movies that exploit the
brutality that the Nazi’s showed; and while they are necessary as well to expose
the truth, Life is Beautiful provides a refreshing view of the situation,
one that is dominated by hope rather than depression.
The dialogue of the entire film is in Italian. While I personally enjoy
subtitled films, these can be annoying to some viewers. However, dubbed versions
are also available. Too often art is determined to be controversial or
extremely offensive. Life is Beautiful breaks free from this stereotype and
shows us that hope is also art and that happiness is beautiful. Life is
beautiful because God sent his son to die, and that should provide motivation
for more optimism than the world has ever seen.
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