FLASHBACK: Life is beautiful but short of aesthetic value

Title:
La Vita E Bella (Life is Beautiful) (A-)
Actors:
Roberto Benigni, Nicoletta Braschi, Giorgio Catarini
Director:
Roberto Benigni
Story & Screenplay:
Roberto Benigni, Vincenzo Cerami
Editor / Music:
Simona Paggi/ Nicola Piovani
Cinematography/ Photography:
Tonino Delli Coli/Danilo Donati
Producer:
Elda Feri et al.
Studio:
Miramax


"The bigger it is the lesser you see it – obscurity"

Six years ago, an Italian movie made Oscar history by being the only second foreign language film to be nominated for Best Picture (Crouching Tiger made it three), and that’s not it, a crazy little old man jumped around the seats when his name was announced as Best Actor. It was this movie and Roberto was the name of the actor.

1939, near the beginning of the Second World War, Guido Orefice (Benigni) together with his brother traveled to Arezzo. He meets Dora (Braschi), a schoolteacher. He was love-struck and immediately found ways to entice her amidst the fact that she’s engaged to an official he previously had a run in with. Soon they married, had a son, and build his dream to have a bookstore. All’s well until they were sent to a concentration camp, despite her not being a Jew, Dora asked to be included with them to not be away from her husband and son. Guido strived to make it appear as if they’re competing in a game to protect Giosue (Catarini) from all the adversity and revulsion of their situation. Will his antics be enough to protect his son from reality? Will they survive the competition and win the one thing his son so greatly desires--- a real tank?

Failed to see this movie years ago and always find some excuse not to watch it cuz I don’t like Roberto Benigni. I have something against jolly people. But I have to taste for myself whether this movie really deserved all the accolades it received or if it’s nothing but another overly celebrated exotic dish…



Basically the movie is divided into two parts: the romance and the desolation. The romance is from the beginning to almost half of the running time. It introduced the characters, outlined the flow and made the audience feel relaxed with all the quirkiness and freshness of Benigni’s eccentric character. At first, I had a hard time catching up with the subtitles cuz they came in and out so fast but a few more scenes and I coped up. Like I expected, the character just didn’t tickle my prickle well enough, a few scenes made me laugh, smart ideas were presented, the lines were clever but it just wouldn’t get through to me…

The desolation part came as a surprise, I thought the movie was all about the romance but I was wrong. I was starting to think that I may be right, this film can possibly be nothing but an overrated piece of shit, but the second part have proven otherwise. It showed the infinite power of love, how much it can strengthens us when all we have left is hope. It featured a man’s true love for his family and how much he’s willing to give, though at times he doesn’t make the smartest decision, chooses the one he thinks will benefit them the best that will eventually… just watch the movie.

The film is idiosyncratic. It was able to make a comic ambiance under a hideous situation, which kinda worked and kinda didn’t. You see, it was a definite diversion from all the depressing war movies, but just as Guido tried to stop his real emotions of fear, anger, and despondency, I felt the same emotions wedged inside of me. It remained there and until the end of the movie it barely came through. Maybe its because I’m a very emotional person and I need to channel my sentiments through tears, I don’t really know. But one thing I am sure of is that it failed to move me as much as I though it would.



Benigni’s direction was a bit odd. I believe he’s better as an actor. The photography was okay; how I wish it just captured the beauty of the city more, however I wouldn’t really know how Italy looks like during the 40’s. The cinematography was weak. Poor camera movements, at times a little peculiar, at times very ordinary. I’m kinda thinking that these three elements could be the reason why it wasn’t as affecting as I though it’ll be and it can be. Plus, the editing isn’t that flawless either. Much of the movie’s faults really lie on the technical aspects. It’s a good thing the Oscar-winning score was great.

Roberto was good. He was very consistent, gave adequate emotions the entire time and he’s like Tom Hanks in a weird way. I would say he deserve the Best Actor award. Nicoletta’s reserved emotional portrayal is astounding. The kid was very good as well.

Ghetto movies always make me cry (wahehe) but this one barely did, and I won’t say that it’s because the story wasn’t moving enough but just because the movie, in general, failed to achieve that effect. It was a finely written, wonderfully portrayed but feebly made movie. Sometimes great story are just not enough for a movie to succeed, that’s why it’s a motion picture and not a novel. In the hands of a Jeanne-Pierre Jeunet, this movie will truly deliver. But the message remains very clear, that life is truly beautiful! Have as much as fun as you can, for what will come tomorrow is ambiguous. So grab life today, as if there is not one awaiting you tomorrow.