Life Is Beautiful (a.k.a. Vita è Bella, La) (UK)

7 / 10
3 votes cast
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An unforgettable fable that proves love, family and imagination conquer all
Certificate: PG
Running Time: 111 mins
Retail Price: £15.99
Release Date:

Synopsis:
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.

Special Features:
Interactive Menus
Scene Access

Video Tracks:
Widescreen Letterbox 1.85:1

Audio Tracks:
Dolby Digital 5.1 English
Dolby Digital 5.1 Italian

Subtitle Tracks:
Swedish
Finnish
English
CC: English
Danish
Norwegian

Directed By:
Roberto Benigni

Written By:


Starring:
Sergio Bini Bustric
Giustino Durano
Giorgio Cantarini
Nicoletta Braschi
Roberto Benigni

Casting By:
Shaila Rubin

Soundtrack By:
Nicola Piovani

Music From:
Jacques Offenbach

Editor:
Simona Paggi

Costume Designer:
Danilo Donati

Production Designer:
Danilo Donati

Producer:
Elda Ferri
Mario Cotone
Gianluigi Braschi

Distributor:
Miramax Films

Your Opinions and Comments

7 / 10
A wonderful story about a charming man, a lovely husband and above all a protective, doting father. Guido is an italian jew during WW2. He is always upbeat, optomistic, intelligent and charming.

The first part of the movie focuses on him wooing this seemingly well off woman who he has fallen in love with. They get married and have a son which brings us to the second half.

Nazi`s have taken control and round up all the Jews including Guido and his family to a concentration camp where Jews are slaughtered and treated as slaves. Guido loves his son and goes to extraordinary lengths to protect him from the cruel harsh reality that is.

A touching, moving film that won oscars for best foreign movie, best music and best actor for Roberto Benigni who also directed the movie

The widescreen picture quality is not that great, about average i`d say. Sound was a pretty good 5.1. Its good to see an english language track as well as the original italian track.
No extras which was dissapointing.
posted by dicanio on 22/11/2002 20:02
8 / 10
A strange film this one, a beautiful love story and a horriying tale if the Holocaust. Whilst the main character starts of as a little irraitaiting you soon warm to him, and the soundtrack music that plays whenever he `bumps` in to his future wife descirbes the feeling love like no other I`ve heard since the piano music in Betty Bue`.

The film is split into two stories, first the love story then the holocaust story which in turn becomes a greater love story. Although it felt a little uneasy to laugh at the humour in the concentration camp scenes you begin to realise that the humour is about survial and love and the boys face when he see`s his `Prize` tank at the end is heartbreaking.

Great acting through out, especially from the lead lady.

recomended
posted by Bryter Layter on 15/3/2003 11:09