ellendellen's reviews

I love this "short story". I try to watch it every time it's on television. It's about two mothers using their children as participants in a stupid competition. Who talks first, who walks first. When the kids grow up they continue to compete. They jump from trees, from bridges... it gets worse, but it's no drama, it's no horror, it's just fun. When will they realize how ridiculous it is? Well, this is a fun movie, short, just like 30 minutes or so, and I love it, absolutely love it. One of my favorites of the more unknown Astrid Lindgren books made into film.

I love La vita è bella/Life is beautiful. It's one of my favorite movies and Benigni is fantastic! I laughed until I cried when he translated the Nazi soldier´s threats to Italian. I was skeptic to non-English movies before, but after seeing this movie I can easily say that I'm not. I thought it would be a problem that I didn't understand the language, but Benigni isn't just a talking actor. He is an acting actor, and I don't think I missed a lot being dependable to the subtitles. I sure hope not, but I guess you always miss a bit.

I have seen other movies about the Holocaust, but they have all been so dark. Not surprisingly since the the Holocaust is a dark chapter in our history. But it's painful to watch them. It's easier to watch La vita è bella, because it's not as dark, but it still succeeds in telling the story about the Holocaust.

And Roberto Benigni doesn't joke about the Holocaust as some criticizers claimed. He simply puts some love and hope into it. And I get the message. Love is everywhere, even in the darkest of places.