An inspired, award-winning story about the power of love and the human spirit, Life Is Beautiful has been called a modern masterpiece! Guido - a charming but bumbling waiter who's gifted with a colourful imagination and an irresistible sense of humour - has won the heart of the woman he loves and created a life for his beautiful young family. But then, that life is threatened by World War II...and Guido must rely on those very same strengths to save his beloved wife and son from an unthinkable fate. Honoured with an overwhelming level of critical acclaim, this truly exceptional, utterly unique motion picture will lift your spirits and capture your heart.
Directed by
Roberto Benigni
Written by
Vincenzo Cerami (story) & Roberto Benigni (story)
Starring
Roberto Benigni (Guido Orefice); Nicoletta Braschi (Dora); Giorgio Cantarini (Giosué Orefice); Giustino Durano (Eliseo Orefice); Sergio Bini Bustric (Ferruccio Papini (as Sergio Bustric)); Marisa Paredes (Madre di Dora); Horst Buchholz (Doctor Lessing (as Horst Bucholz)); Lidia Alfonsi (Guicciardini); Giuliana Lojodice (School Principal); Amerigo Fontani (Rodolfo); Pietro De Silva (Bartolomeo); Francesco Guzzo (Vittorino); Raffaella Lebboroni (Elena); Claudio Alfonsi (Amico Rodolfo); Gil Baroni (Prefect). Please contact SFC to add other cast members and characters.
Important: the following essays and comments are authored by Soul Food Cinema readers. Whilst the Editor prays for the spiritual integrity of all content of this site, it should be noted that these represent personal opinions and carry no official endorsement. If you consider any content to be a misrepresentation of Catholic teaching, please contact SFC. May God bless you and enlighten you in your reading.
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Readers' Comments and Opinions
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Loving Life in the Face of Suffering
Mark Banks (United Kingdom)
Opinion: Recommended
What a testament La Vita è Bella is to the fact that whatever one man can take from another in life, two of the things he cannot take are his attitude and his soul. If you haven't already had the opportunity I recommend you read my essay exploring this film and it's similarities to the book "Man's Search for Meaning" authored by Holocaust survivor and psychiatrist Victor E Frankl. Both film and book explore the role of humour as one of the souls weapons in the fight for preservation. And both film and book are one in their conclusion that by acknowledging a truly worthy cause to pursue in life, man has identified one of the key things he needs in order to survive and continue on in his struggle. Ultimately both film and book provide strong testament to the fact that suffering does indeed produce perseverance, perseverance; character, and charater; hope (Roms 5:3-4).
