Life Is Beautiful

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Life Is Beautiful

PG-13

1998

2h 2m

Comedy

Drama

War

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

80%

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92 Reviews

96%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ 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

The Times (UK)

09/20/2022

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

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Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

12/25/2010

5/5

Wrenching Holocaust fable with bittersweet humor.

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Tom Dawson

BBC.com

06/10/2002

2/5

How appealing you find it will probably depend on your response to Benigni's screen-hogging routines -- the line between endearing and irksome is a fine one.

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

08/25/2024

10/10

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.

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Matthew Rozsa

matthewrozsa.com

08/26/2023

3.5/4

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

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Wesley Lovell

Cinema Sight

12/25/2022

2/4

“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.

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christopher b

10/04/2022

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

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Romas M

@Romas 14h

Greetings from Lithuania. "La vita è bella" (1997) - (what a beautiful title) is a great movie. It is genuinely moving and fascinating film that is full of good heart even at the cost of some historical accuracy. I first saw it when I was 13 years old, and I never forgot it. What beautiful piece of work. Wonderfully acted, directed, paced it takes you to the place, involves you, shakes you to the core, inspires you and lets you go on a beautiful note - heroes can be found in the most unusual places, and true heroes goes unsung. On its core, "La vita è bella" is a fairytale, but so captivating, so true, so beautifully told it will leave you with eyes wet. It delivers on every aspect. I saw this movie many times, and every single time it left me speechless. Overall, if you somehow haven't seen this movie, do yourself a favor and experience it, that is the only word that sums up this picture. It is very sentimental but that is what makes is so rewatchable. Great movie.

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don c

@Donald290 Jan 10

I've watched this a few times, and while at times maudlin and even sappy, the last half is absolutely brilliant. In spite if it's flaws, I consider it a unique masterpiece.

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Mateo V

@MateoVLSa Dec 8

Honestly, one of the best films that portrays family love even in times of war like the Holocaust.

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Aaron N.

@agn1441 Dec 5

Not much can be said about this movie with out giving the plot away, the only thing that I'm going to say is that you need to watch it asap.... and it will hurt your feels

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Zane T

@ZaneThind Nov 14

Benigni does it all here. He definitely knew for the film to be successful he had to be front and center and so that's what he did it.

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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

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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, Melampo Cinematografica
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Comedy, Drama, War
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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