Life Is Beautiful

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Life Is Beautiful

PG-13

Released Oct 22, 1998

2h 2m

Comedy

Drama

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81%

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94 Reviews

96%

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100,000+ Ratings

A gentle Jewish-Italian waiter, Guido Orefice (Roberto Benigni), meets Dora (Nicoletta Braschi), a pretty schoolteacher, and wins her over with his charm and humor. Eventually they marry and have a son, Giosue (Giorgio Cantarini). Their happiness is abruptly halted, however, when Guido and Giosue are separated from Dora and taken to a concentration camp. Determined to shelter his son from the horrors of his surroundings, Guido convinces Giosue that their time in the camp is merely a game.

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Critics Consensus

Benigni's earnest charm, when not overstepping its bounds into the unnecessarily treacly, offers the possibility of hope in the face of unflinching horror.

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Ben Dowell

Times (UK)

Schmaltzy, treacly, saccharine — call it what you like, if you’re not blubbing by the end, check your pulse.

Sep 20, 2022

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Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Wrenching Holocaust fable with bittersweet humor.

Rated: 5/5

Dec 25, 2010

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Steven D. Greydanus

Decent Films

Rated: A

Oct 29, 2008

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

The last act is monumental - in its crushing revelations, the inevitable deterioration and near-misses of the complex charade, and the chance coincidences that constitute alternating hope and despair.

Rated: 10/10

Aug 25, 2024

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Matthew Rozsa

matthewrozsa.com

"It makes you wonder if “Shakespeare in Love” really deserved the Academy Award for best movie of ’98."

Rated: 3.5/4

Aug 26, 2023

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Wesley Lovell

Cinema Sight

“Life Is Beautiful” is quite entertaining and well acted for the most part. Benigni isn’t extremely impressive in the lead role, nor is Cantarini very effective. The plot contains various elements seen in other films and not done much better.

Rated: 2/4

Dec 25, 2022

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christopher b

I’m so glad I was the only person in the theater because I lost it.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/04/22

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valentina T

This is one of the best movies I have watched. I have watched it about 5 times and will continue to watch it. I see a lot of reviews critizing the "humor" that this movie has and it is clear to say that plot is the reason. A father trying to protect his youn son from the horrors of the world, in the time period in which they live in. "There was nothing beautiful about life during the holocaust", are you stupid, its not life being beautiful during this time but the beauty of what life is, over coming challeneges and having hope and looking after those you love, that is what is beautful. "I've seen films do a much better job of portraying the the Holocaust and this film is also so repeated, notning new" are you dumb? There were thousnads of people in camps they all had a differetn story. This film gives you a new perspective of this war by focusing on this family. I might also memtion that Roberto Benigni took inspiration from the memoir End, I Beat Hitler by Salmoni. If you haven't already read it, it is also beautiful.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/10/24

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Hao Ian L

All efforts to make a somber and sorrowful war awareness film are quickly diminished with the approach of a theatrical, absurdist mode of delivery. And while the message is of good intent, it's nothing that hasn't already been done in older films, and if not even better.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

10/22/24

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Milox B

« La Vie est Belle » est un film ayant un scénario brillant qui combine humour et émotion. Les personnages sont tous attachants et la musique sublime chaque instant. Un film drôle, émouvant, et inoubliable.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/15/24

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Fabrícia F

Comovente, emocionante. A perspectiva da guerra sob os olhos de um homem simples que tenta viver uma vida normal com seu filho mesmo em meio ao caos da Segunda Guerra Mundial (1939-1945). Entretanto os traumas são inevitáveis e resultarão num fim trágico.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/18/24

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Dionisis T

A film that certainly evokes many emotions in you, changes you and enchants you without having anything spectacular.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/14/24

Full Review

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Roberto Benigni

Director

Roberto Benigni

Guido Orefice

Nicoletta Braschi

Dora

Giorgio Cantarini

Giosué Orefice

Giustino Durano

Eliseo Orefice

Sergio Bini Bustric

Ferruccio Papini

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Synopsis

A gentle Jewish-Italian waiter, Guido Orefice (Roberto Benigni), meets Dora (Nicoletta Braschi), a pretty schoolteacher, and wins her over with his charm and humor. Eventually they marry and have a son, Giosue (Giorgio Cantarini). Their happiness is abruptly halted, however, when Guido and Giosue are separated from Dora and taken to a concentration camp. Determined to shelter his son from the horrors of his surroundings, Guido convinces Giosue that their time in the camp is merely a game.

Director: Roberto Benigni
Producer: Gianluigi Braschi, Elda Ferri
Screenwriter: Vincenzo Cerami, Roberto Benigni
Distributor: Miramax Films
Production Co: Miramax, Cecchi Gori Group Tiger Cinema
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: Italian
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 22, 1998, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 25, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $57.6M
Runtime: 2h 2m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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