So glad I did not. Just don't bother asking your child to sit through this. We and our partners use cookies on this site to improve our service, perform analytics, personalize advertising, measure advertising performance, and remember website preferences. Nothing more reliable for automatic drama and readymade bad guys than Nazis Sound of Music, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Stalag 17, I think there might be seven thousand other examples , but this one is different not only for its humor and light-hearted first half, but here we get to watch the people turn and see how easy it is to become an ugly nation. In fact, the first time I watched this, I almost turned it off half way. But the movie is still moving, still enchanting and still quite funny.
Roberto Benigni is a genius!!!! Heart-rending moments of Nazi horror interspersed with heart-warming courageous humanity. Life is beautiful, but strange, as well. Yet Benigni for one didn't do his dubbing himself, but had it done by the American actor Jonathan Nichols, likewise with the role of Guido's wife Dora, who was voiced by Italian actress Ilaria Borrelli, and thus most probably with most of the rest of the cast. For more information on cookies including how to manage your consent visit our. Body MrichTextContainer ol ul {list-style-type:circle;line-height:normal;}. It may be hinted at, or implied, but never directly shown.
Interestingly, some twenty years before, Jerry Lewis attempted a similar film, but then held it back for fear that people were not ready for it. The classical comedy focuses on a base man who is raised above his station so that he looks quite ridiculous. As it is presented, it seems to do accomplish what it sets out to do, but this is certainly not a probing, realistic treatment of the Holocaust, by any means. I hope this goes down as a landmark piece of cinematic history. To me, this epitomizes love at its finest--that a child's innocence and a spouse's hope would be worth risking your own life for. Their happiness is abruptly halted, however, when Guido and Giosue are separated from Dora and taken to a concentration camp. Which again references an existing English dubbed version.
Hard to see how any work of art could deliver a more powerful and entertaining message against the always-forming ugly nation than Life is Beautiful. Body MrichTextContainer ol ul ul {list-style-type:square;line-height:normal;}. Nor does it belittle the horror by belittling the instruments of that horror from time to time. Another focus is that violence is never directly shown in a classical comedy. Plenty of difficult realities here despite the family-friendly cover and title. The languages must be close because it was not at all distracting.
Spoiler Alert: Benigni's character meets his demise toward the end and this is not dealt with in an effort to maintain the story as a triumph of humanity over inhumanity, which will leave a bad taste for many, if not most. Even Spielberg allegedly walked out upon seeing it. The nuance of the original Italian is gone in many scenes, replaced by a clumsier English approximation. At points where Benigni whispered, Nichols blurts it out as if he's trying to be heard above a crowd. If there is one thing truly impressive about this movie, it is that it adheres to a classical comedy. Overall, this is a feel-good movie that rides the razor's edge constantly. That is where the amusment and laughter comes from.
Was it ever dubbed into English? Body MrichTextContainer ul ol ul {list-style-type:square;line. Jonathan Nichols' dubs for il maestro don't possess the subtlety of Benigni who did win Best Actor, mind you. This film is heartwarming and heartwrenching. The main character is so smart and witty. Furthermore, it also says that Horst Buchholz did his own dubbing for the English and German dubbed versions. Eventually they marry and have a son, Giosue Giorgio Cantarini. Who can take a theme such as the Holocaust and set it within a comedy? You really must see this movie, just keep some tissues handy.
When looking at only, there are many hints that it was dubbed. This movie is beautiful, heart-wrenching, full of love. This is a film, not mere entertainment. By using the site, you consent to these cookies. The production is Italian, and the actors too, but at least in the the English and German languages are mentioned, and no list of dubbers is provided. Miramax risks giving us too much of a good thing as it re-releases Benigni's 1998 Oscar sensation in an English dubbed version.
Determined to shelter his son from the horrors of his surroundings, Guido convinces Giosue that their time in the camp is merely a game. Tears are welling up writing this review. Anyone can fart and burp, but only a master could take the Holocaust and show humor and demonstrate a noble endeavor all at once. Body MrichTextContainer ul ul {list-style-type:circle;line-height:normal;}. It has still never been shown to the public. It is worth your time if you know the difference between those two genres.