| Life Is Beautiful [1999] | ![Life Is Beautiful [1999]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51EJX7H9BFL._SL160_.jpg)
 enlarge | Director: Roberto Benigni
Actors: Roberto Benigni, Nicoletta Braschi, Giorgio Cantarini, Giustino Durano, Sergio Bini Bustric
Studio: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainm
Category: DVD
List Price: £15.99
Buy New: £3.98
You Save: £12.01 (75%)
Buy New/Used from £3.45
Avg. Customer Rating:   (103 reviews)
Sales Rank: 504
Format: Pal
Languages: English (Original Language), Italian (Original Language), English (Subtitles For The Hearing Impaired), English (Subtitled), Swedish (Subtitled), Finnish (Subtitled), Danish (Subtitled)
Rating: Parental Guidance
Media: DVD
Running Time: 122 minutes
Number Of Items: 1
Discs: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.4 x 5.4 x 0.6
EAN: 5017188882248
ASIN: B00004D0DU
Release Date: January 22, 2001
Theatrical Release Date: October 23, 1998
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.co.uk Review
Italy's rubber-faced funnyman Roberto Benigni accomplishes the impossible in his World War II comedy Life Is Beautiful: he shapes a simultaneously hilarious and haunting comedy out of the tragedy of the Holocaust. An international sensation and the most successful foreign language film in US history, the picture also earned director-cowriter-star Benigni Oscars for Best Foreign Language Film and Best Actor. He plays the Jewish country boy Guido, a madcap romantic in Mussolini's Italy who wins the heart of his sweetheart (Benigni's real-life sweetie, Nicoletta Braschi) and raises a darling son (the adorable Giorgio Cantarini) in the shadow of fascism. When the Nazis ship the men off to a concentration camp in the waning days of the war, Guido is determined to shelter his son from the evils around them and convinces him they're in an elaborate contest to win (of all things) a tank. Guido tirelessly maintains the ruse with comic ingenuity, even as the horrors escalate and the camp's population continues to dwindle--all the more impetus to keep his son safe, secure and, most of all, hidden. Benigni walks a fine line mining comedy from tragedy and his efforts are pure fantasy--he accomplishes feats no man could realistically pull off--both of which have drawn fire from a few critics. Yet for all its wacky humour and inventive gags, Life Is Beautiful is a moving and poignant tale of one father's sacrifice to save not just his young son's life but his innocence in the face of one of the most evil acts ever perpetrated by the human race. --Sean Axmaker
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| Customer Reviews: Read 98 more reviews...
 A vile travesty October 6, 2008
0 out of 3 found this review helpful
I would give this no stars at all. There was NOTHING beautiful about "life" for the Jews who went through the Holocaust. This is the most cynical, insensitive, arse-covering, insulting interpretation of the Holocaust ever to be produced. I hate it! And I hate that foolish Roberto Benigni for producing it.
 a wonderful look at a terrible event July 30, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Although i understand the viewpoints of those people who have only rated this as a 1 star, i would have to disagree. the common dislike seems to be that it is inappropriate to make a 'comedy' with the central theme being the holocaust. i however do not think that that is what this film is supposed to be. The comic beginning of the film is intended to make the viewer find the irrepressible main character impossible not to love. this in turn serves only to heighten the incredible sadness and feelings of loss that the rest of the film conveys. it is a dark, beautiful and moving film. The use of comedy, in my opinion is that which makes the holocaust theme hit home more than any amount of pathos ever could. I can't help but find this to be one of the most moving films i have ever seen. i entirely recommend it, so long as you are not looking for a comedy, but rather a unique look at the terrible happenings of this period of history.
 Boring July 19, 2008
0 out of 3 found this review helpful
I found this film boring. I entirely disagree with the reviews objecting to the film in terms of 'comedy about the holocaust' - comedy can be one of the most profoundly tragic forms of communication. Unfortunately this film had nothing of the profound or the tragic. It was just so trivial and I couldn't care less about the characters.
Bring on a comedy about the holocaust - make it shocking, make it black, make it make me laugh through the tears. Don't make another sentimental, mediocre, light-comedy.
absolute cinematic genius July 13, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
I can't believe I only just saw this movie. It is honestly the greatest piece of cinema I have ever seen
I laughed hysterically, then cried, then got absolutely furious...and then cried some more
Amazing!
Excellent movie.. May 19, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Roberto Benigni has created a masterpiece here. The acting is suberb, exspecially the actor portraying little Giosue. Brilliantly filmed and highly emotional (Exspecially the last climactic scene where Giosue is finally reunited with his mother, in my opinion one of the most emotionally powerful scenes I've ever seen in a movie). Its take on the Holocaust is at once serious and comical. Too comical some would argue, but to that I can only say: It's called sarcasm! Chaplin's 'The Great Dictator' (1940) made use of the same method to great effect to expose the absurdity of the Holocaust. The comic doesn't make it more comic, but enhances the absurdity of the evil.
All in all a great movie I would recommend to anyone..
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