Life is beautiful (Aka) La Vita i Bella

Plot

Life is beautiful is the story of Jewish Italian,Guido who protects his family during the misery. In the opening of the movie,the clownish Guido arrives in the town of Arezzo,dreaming about to open his own bookshop. Later,he finds temporary work as a waiter in his uncle's hotel. On the way to Arezzo,their car broke down then they tried to fix it out. Thereby,he met with Dora unexpectedly and their love story begins. Dora is a school teacher who comes from a wealthy non- Jewish family. Her parents wants her to engage to the upper-class civil servant. However,Dora falls for Guido and as they had common feelings for each other,Dora was taken away by Guido at her engagement ceremony. Thereafter,the two lovers marry and have an adorable child named Giosué. While watching these scenes,you almost forget the film's plot concerns the holocaust. That's a brilliant story line though. They spend their lives happily for several years. When Giosué reached to the age of four,Guido and Giosué were deported to a German-run concentration camp,followed by Dora despite being a non-Jew. Guido tries to shield his son from the world around him by telling him that it is all part of a game where points are awarded for good behaviour and first prize is a tank. Hence,although he is surrounded by sickness and death, Giosué did not frighten at all because of his father's assuring presentation and his own innocence. Men and women are separated in the concentration camp. So,Guido was trying to find out his wife,Dora. While he was finding his wife, he tells his son to hide in a sweatbox until everybody left. Thereafter,he was caught the Nazi guard and he tried to figure out how to make his son laugh one last time by imitating that two of them are stepping towards the camp together. Giosué survives and thinks that he has won the game when an American tank arrives at the camp. At the end, he also found his mother as well but they didn't know about Guido's upset death.

Characters

Guido Orefice – is a hilarious,sweet and goofy man who always tell the stories. The scene in which Guido stole Dora with green horse at her engagement ceremony obviously shows how Guido is humorous. He has a variety of works but his dream is to own a bookshop. He is a carefree and great father. He protects his little son, Giosué in every part of this film. After his marriage,Guido and Dora lead a happy life with their son, Giosué. When he was sent to a concentration camp with Dora and Giosué,he tries to encourage them with his antics and he eventually sacrifices his life to save his son.

Dora Orefice – Guido's wife who works as a teacher. She leaves her engagement ceremony for Guido because she wanted to find him wherever he goes. When Guido and Giosué are taken to a concentration camp,she insists on going,too,even though she is not Jewish. But she can't meet with her husband and son because men and women have been separated. At the end of the film,she is eventually reunited with her son.

Giosue Orefice – Guido and Dora's son. After Guido and Giosue are taken to the concentration camp,he believes that they are both participants in a giant game and the winner will receive a real tank. As being a four-year-old child,Giosue believe all his father had told him. He is doubtful with his father's fantastic ideas,but he finally take great joy in the magical world that his father creates for him. Several years later,he realized what his father had done for his mother and himself. It was shown in the last part of the movie. He was grateful for shielding the nightmares of these days.

Themes

The themes of this movie is mainly the power of love. Guido's love keeps Giosue alive through the harsh truths of concentration camp. As Guido makes everything into a huge game,so that the little boy will remain hidden throughout the misery time. Giosue only interested in the big game to win that his father created. Not only does Guido show great love but also does Dora. Since she is not Jewish,she demands to go with Guido and Giosue to the concentration camp. In addition,all three main characters were strong enough to face with difficulties. Guido's main target is to reunion his family.

Critique

This movie is a great movie that you should watch it. It'll tell you life truly is beautiful. “Life is beautiful” is a film of two distinct halves.To be honest, I don't know whether this is a comedy or upset story. The film intends the powers of imagination,innocence,and love in the most harrowing of circumstances. At the beginning of the film,it was like a movie with happy ending but it actually not. The background of this movie mainly points to the focus of the war. The last scene of this movie really touches to me that Giosue met back with his mother. In the end,Giosue realized how his father sacrificed for his family. Overall,this film is well-worth seeing film and I do enjoy this film very much.