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Life Is Beautiful(La vita è bella)

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Italy · 1997
Rated PG-13 · 1h 56m
Director Roberto Benigni
Starring Roberto Benigni, Nicoletta Braschi, Giorgio Cantarini, Giustino Durano
Genre Comedy, Drama

A touching story of an Italian bookseller of Jewish ancestry who lives in his own little fairy tale. His creative and happy life comes to an abrupt halt when his entire family is deported to a concentration camp during World War II. While locked up, he tells stories to his son to transform their bleak reality into fantasy.

Stream Life Is Beautiful

What are people saying?

Ting Shing Koh Profile picture for Ting Shing Koh

This film really showcases how powerful family can be and how much a parent is willing to do for their child. Set in one of the most horrific times in history, the film presents a bittersweet narrative as the father shields his son from their harsh reality. No spoilers but get your Kleenex ready, I certainly needed plenty!

What are critics saying?

80

The A.V. Club by

The concept is not so much nihilistic as it is realistic, and the fact that Benigni has made such fine distinctions so powerfully clear is amazing and moving.

100

Film.com by Elizabeth Weitzman

Benigni, with great help from young Cantarini, has crafted a work of such complexity that you may find both your brain and your heart simply overloaded. Which, of course, is the rarely achieved goal of all art.

80

The New York Times by Elvis Mitchell

Benigni effectively creates a situation in which comedy is courage. And he draws from this an unpretentious, enormously likable film that plays with history both seriously and mischievously. Piety has no place here, nor do tears until the final reel. Life is Beautiful plays by its own rules

70

Film.com by Peter Brunette

While most reviewers will accuse it of sentimentality (a charge that is justified), audiences, who don't feel the need to appear rigorous and tough-minded all the time, will flock to it in droves.

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