In 1932, Guido (Roberto Benigni), an Italian Jewish bookseller, moves to Toscana, where he falls in love with Dora (Nicoletta Braschi), a schoolteacher. She was already engaged, but Guido still fights for her and after many comic and unexpected situations he wins her heart. They marry and have a son, Giosué (Giorgio Cantarini). The family ignores the rising tide of anti-Jewish sentiment in town, but five years later Guido and his son are sent to a concentration camp with other Jews, and Dora voluntarily follows them. There, men and women are separated, but Guido will always find a way to communicate with his wife. Meanwhile, the boy is in mortal peril, because the children are taken to the gas chamber. Realizing the gravity of the situation, Guido tells his son to stay out of sight. But when the boy starts asking too many questions, he tells him they are in a competition and that the winner gets a real army tank. Guido will do anything to protect his son and keep the boy away from the harsh reality of suffering and death going on during the Holocaust. Meanwhile, he passes through comic situations and episodes just to carry out his mission.
The movie handles a profoundly serious subject with a light touch. It’s a deeply touching story about love under the worst circumstances. It shows that the world may be ugly sometimes, but the love that we hold in our hearts can overcome it.
Giorgio Cantarini, perfectly playing the young boy, is a delight in every scene in which he appears. Roberto Benigni’s brilliant performance, full of humour and creativity, allows us a different vision of the Holocaust, turning the movie into a romantic comedy. The actor, who is also the director and writer, explores the elements of drama and horror in a different way. Consequently, the story becomes a wonderful mixture of comedy, tragedy and compassion.
This movie is an engaging, funny and heartfelt experience. We see a deeply touching story told with imagination and humour. As Joan Chittister has written "Humour cuts oppressors down to size, takes their sting away, renders them powerless to destroy us. Don't give in to what diminishes you... Learn to laugh at it and reduce its power over you" - that’s the spirit of this Italian comedy that I definitely recommend.
If you want, take a look at the trailer!
A very touching movie...It is amazing to see how he don't lose his mind and can make fun of a situation like that...
Love in one of its many ways...
(",)Bjs