When an open-minded Jewish librarian and his son become victims of the Holocaust, he uses a perfect mixture of will, humor and imagination to protect his son from the dangers around their camp.
Jedis, Bellas, and Jaegers await you in our Winter Movie Guide. Plan your season and take note of the hotly anticipated indie, foreign, and documentary releases, too.
In German-occupied Poland during World War II, Oskar Schindler gradually becomes concerned for his Jewish workforce after witnessing their persecution by the Nazi Germans.
Mathilda, a 12-year-old girl, is reluctantly taken in by Léon, a professional assassin, after her family is murdered. Léon and Mathilda form an unusual relationship, as she becomes his protégée and learns the assassin's trade.
A young F.B.I. cadet must receive the help of an incarcerated and manipulative cannibal killer to help catch another serial killer, a madman who skins his victims.
Director:
Jonathan Demme
Stars:
Jodie Foster,
Anthony Hopkins,
Lawrence A. Bonney
In 1930s Italy, a carefree Jewish book keeper named Guido starts a fairy tale life by courting and marrying a lovely woman from a nearby city. Guido and his wife have a son and live happily together until the occupation of Italy by German forces. In an attempt to hold his family together and help his son survive the horrors of a Jewish Concentration Camp, Guido imagines that the Holocaust is a game and that the grand prize for winning is a tank. Written by
Anthony Hughes <husnock31@hotmail.com>
Roberto Benigni's Oscar win for Best Actor was the second time a performance completely in Italian had been awarded. The previous winner was Sophia Loren for Two Women (1960). See more »
Goofs
The position of the tank in relation to the paper when Giosuè is drawing in the book store changes. See more »
Quotes
[first lines]
Giosué Orefice:
[narrating as an adult]
This is a simple story... but not an easy one to tell.
See more »
Belle nuit (Barcarolle)
(1881)
from the opera "Les contes d'Hoffmann"
Music by Jacques Offenbach
Libretto by Jules Barbier (uncredited)
Performed by Montserrat Caballé (as M. Caballé), soprano and Shirley Verrett (as S. Verret), mezzo-soprano
Recorded by RCA Victor
New Philharmonia Orchestra (uncredited)
Conducted by Anton Guadagno (uncredited) See more »
The first time I saw the movie was when I was about seventeen or so,
and I never forgot it. The incredibly human characters (such as the
doctor who loved riddles), the fantastic script-writing, the amazing
acting, and of course the heartwarming story. This movie proves once
and for all how strong we are, as humans, that in the face of adversity
we can make the best of things. There is so much love in the
characters; Dora's love for her husband Guido is boundless, as well as
Guido's love for his son. Sure, it's a slightly unrealistic movie, but
hey, aren't they all a little unrealistic? I've also seen people review
this movie and say that it made light of the Holocaust, which was of
course a dark point in history. I don't think so; I think that it's
only delicately handled, and because of that, the movie is one that a
person can watch in one sitting without being thoroughly disgusted by
mankind. I would say that those who think this movie is too "light" are
cynical and bitter. The whole point to the movie is to show what love
is capable of, and to provide encouragement and perhaps guidance. This
movie changed my life from the first time I watched it. I came away
with this feeling that no matter what I have to face in life, that I
can overcome it. This is a movie that I would recommend to anyone over
the age of eleven. The acting is superb (though Roberto Benigni is a
little over-the-top, LOL), the story heartwarming and easy to
understand. It's excellent!
175 of 236 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful to you?
The first time I saw the movie was when I was about seventeen or so, and I never forgot it. The incredibly human characters (such as the doctor who loved riddles), the fantastic script-writing, the amazing acting, and of course the heartwarming story. This movie proves once and for all how strong we are, as humans, that in the face of adversity we can make the best of things. There is so much love in the characters; Dora's love for her husband Guido is boundless, as well as Guido's love for his son. Sure, it's a slightly unrealistic movie, but hey, aren't they all a little unrealistic? I've also seen people review this movie and say that it made light of the Holocaust, which was of course a dark point in history. I don't think so; I think that it's only delicately handled, and because of that, the movie is one that a person can watch in one sitting without being thoroughly disgusted by mankind. I would say that those who think this movie is too "light" are cynical and bitter. The whole point to the movie is to show what love is capable of, and to provide encouragement and perhaps guidance. This movie changed my life from the first time I watched it. I came away with this feeling that no matter what I have to face in life, that I can overcome it. This is a movie that I would recommend to anyone over the age of eleven. The acting is superb (though Roberto Benigni is a little over-the-top, LOL), the story heartwarming and easy to understand. It's excellent!