Life Is Beautiful (1997) La vita è bella (original title)

Directors:

Roberto Benigni
Rod Dean

Writers:

Vincenzo Cerami (story) &
Roberto Benigni (story)

Release Date:

12 February 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance | War

Tagline:

An unforgettable fable that proves love, family and imagination conquer all.

Plot:

A Jewish man has a wonderful romance with the help of his humour, but must use that same quality to protect his son in a Nazi death camp.

Plot Keywords:

Jewish | Italy | Tank | Waiter | Restaurant

Awards:

Won 3 Oscars. Another 55 wins & 31 nominations

Cast

Roberto Benigni	...	Guido
Nicoletta Braschi	...	Dora
Giorgio Cantarini	...	Joshua
Giustino Durano	...	Uncle Eliseo
Sergio Bini Bustric	...	Ferruccio (as Sergio Bustric)
Marisa Paredes	...	Dora's Mother
Horst Buchholz	...	Doctor Lessing (as Horst Bucholz)
Giuliana Lojodice	...	School Principal
Amerigo Fontani	...	Rodolfo
Pietro De Silva	...	Bartolomeo
Francesco Guzzo	...	Vittorino
Raffaella Lebboroni	...	Elena
Claudio Alfonsi	...	Rodolfo's Friend
Gil Baroni	...	Prefect
Massimo Bianchi	...	Man with Key
Jürgen Bohn	...	German Orderly at Party (as Jurgen Bohn)
Verena Buratti	...	German Auxilliary
Robert Camero	...	German Executioner
Ennio Consalvi	...	General Graziosi
Giancarlo Cosentino	...	Waiter Ernesto
Aaron Craig	...	U.S. Tank Soldier
Alfiero Falomi	...	King
Daniela Fedke	...	German Auxilliary
Antonio Fommei	...	School Janitor
Stefano Frangipani	...	Card Player
Ernst Frowein Holger	...	German Sergeant
Alessandra Grassi	...	Teacher
Hannes Hellmann	...	German Corporal (as Hannes Helmann)
Wolfgang Hillinger	...	German Major at Party
Margarita Lucia Krauss	...	Female Soldier at Children's Dinner
Patrizia Lazzarini	...	Woman #1 at Grand Hotel
Maria Letizia	...	Woman #2 at Grand Hotel
Concetta Lombardo	...	Gigliola
Maria Rita Macellari	...	Queen
Carlotta Mangione	...	Eleonora
Franco Mescolini	...	School Inspector
Francesca Messinese	...	Woman at the Opera
Inger Lise Middelthon	...	German Auxilliary
Andrea Nardi	...	Unpholsterer
Günther Pfanzelter	...	German Soldier (as Gunther Pfanzelter)
Cristiana Porchiella	...	Old Maid Teacher
Antonio Prester	...	Bruno (as Nino Prester)
Gina Rovere	...	Dora's Maid
Laura Susanne Ruedeberg	...	German Auxilliary (as Laura Ruedeberg)
Massimo Salvianti	...	Book Store Polceman
Richard Sammel	...	German Lieutenant at Station
James Schindler	...	German Guard
Andrea Tidona	...	Grand Hotel Doorman
Dirk K. van den Berg	...	German Soldier (as Dirk Karsten Van Den Berg)
Giovanna Villa	...	City Hall Secretary
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Lidia Alfonsi	...	Guicciardini
Omero Antonutti	...	Narrator (voice) (uncredited)

Directed by
Roberto Benigni
Rod Dean		(director: English language version)

Writing credits
Vincenzo Cerami		(story and screenplay) &
Roberto Benigni		(story and screenplay)

Produced by
Gianluigi Braschi	....	producer
Mario Cotone	....	line producer
John M. Davis	....	producer (English language version)
Elda Ferri	....	producer
Agnès Mentre	....	executive producer (english dubbed version) (as Agnes Mentre)
John Rogers	....	executive producer (english dubbed version) (as John S. Rogers Jr.)

Original Music by
Nicola Piovani		(music by)

Cinematography by
Tonino Delli Colli		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Simona Paggi

Casting by
Shaila Rubin

Production Design by
Danilo Donati

Set Decoration by
Luigi Urbani

Costume Design by
Danilo Donati

Makeup Department
Giusy Bovino	....	key hair stylist
Martina Cossu	....	makeup artist
Walter Cossu	....	key makeup artist
Maria Pia Crapanzano	....	hair stylist
Enrico Iacoponi	....	key makeup artist
Federico Laurenti	....	makeup artist
Fabio Lucchetti	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Tullio Lullo	....	production manager
John Rogers	....	post-production supervisor: New York (as John S. Rogers Jr.)
Pietro Sassaroli	....	production manager
Attilio Viti	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Gianni Arduini	....	assistant director
Daniele Cama	....	assistant director
Dan Edelstein	....	additional director: English dubbed version
Giovanni Marino	....	second assistant director (as Nanni Marino)
Luigi Spoletini	....	second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Emanuela Alteri	....	decorative painter
Rosario Calascibetta	....	props
Paolo Cameli	....	set painter
Alberto Ciolfi	....	decorative painter
Vito Consoli	....	set painter
Maurizio di Clemente	....	set designer (as Mauriziio Di Clemente)
Edoardo Di Iorio	....	second assistant production designer
Ivano Gatti	....	set painter
Roberto Magagnini	....	property master
Carlo Maggi	....	construction head
Carlo Maggi	....	head plasterer
Paola Mugnai	....	decorative painter
Sabina Palermo	....	props management: Intesa
Maurizio Sabatini	....	first assistant production designer
Romolo Severi	....	decorative painter
Marcello Turco	....	set painter
Fernando Valento	....	construction manager
Luca Ferretti	....	assistant property master (uncredited)
Stephen Andrew Schwartz	....	props (uncredited)
Francesco Valento	....	carpenter (uncredited)

Sound Department
Fernando Ascani	....	assistant engineer: English dubbed version
Benni Atria	....	assistant editor: Avid
Benni Atria	....	sound editor
Michael Barry	....	re-recording mixer: English dubbed version
Louis Cerborino	....	sound editorial staff: New York (as Lou Cerborino)
Claudio Chiossi	....	sound mixer
Pam DeMetruis-Thomas	....	adr editor: English dubbed version (as Pam De Metruis)
Marco di Vittorio	....	adr engineer (as Marco Di Vittorio)
Alberto Doni	....	sound mixer
Gerald Donlan	....	adr editor: English dubbed version
Gerald Donlan	....	sound editorial staff: New York
Steve Earnhart	....	foley editor: English dubbed version (as Stephen Earnhart)
Dan Edelstein	....	sound editorial staff: New York
Dan Edelstein	....	supervising adr editor
Tom Fleischman	....	re-recording mixer: English dubbed version
Jesse Hammer	....	recording engineer: English dubbed version
Bill Higley	....	recording engineer: English dubbed version
Bobby Johanson	....	recording engineer: English dubbed version
Richard King	....	sound effects editor: English dubbed version
Dan Korintus	....	adr editor: English dubbed version
Steve Kramer	....	dubbing adaptation: English dubbed version
Ettore Mancini	....	boom operator
James Marchione	....	assistant engineer: English dubbed version (as Jim Marchione)
Silvia Moraes	....	sound editor
Tullio Morganti	....	sound recordist
Branka Mrkic	....	adr editor: English dubbed version
Angela Organ	....	assistant editor: English dubbed version
Harry Peck Bolles	....	adr editor: English dubbed version (as Harry Bolles)
Jacob Ribicoff	....	adr editor: English dubbed version
Federico Savina	....	consultant: Dolby
Arthur Schlenger	....	assistant editor: English dubbed version
Steve Schwartz	....	assistant editor: English dubbed version
Steve Schwartz	....	sound editorial staff: New York (as Stephen Schwartz)
Damon Skinner	....	sound editorial staff: New York
Charlotte Stobbs	....	sound editorial staff: New York
Marco Lazzaro	....	boom operator (uncredited)
Alessandro Pambianco	....	assistant sound (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Kenneth Cassar	....	special effects technician (uncredited)
Giovanni Corridori	....	special effects (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Robert Bagala	....	grip (as Roberto Bagola)
Salvatore Bognanni	....	assistant camera
Roberto Brega	....	camera operator
Aldo Colanzi	....	key grip
Marco Contaldo	....	electrician
Francesco Cotone	....	assistant grip
Roberto Cuccoli	....	electrician
Marco Cuzzupoli	....	assistant camera
Umberto Dessena	....	grip
Claudio Frollano	....	electrician
Sergio Gabrielli	....	grip
Aldo Galigani	....	electrician
Maurizio Galli	....	assistant grip
Simone Lucchetti	....	electrician
Adolfo Onorati	....	generator operator
Marco Santarelli	....	grip
Fabrizio Spadoni	....	grip
Sergio Strizzi	....	still photographer
Giovanni Tancredi	....	electrician
Massimo Tanfani	....	assistant grip
Marco Verginelli	....	grip
Carlo Vinciguerra	....	gaffer

Casting Department
Mark Bennett	....	casting director: English dubbed version
Savannah Haske	....	casting associate (English dubbed version)
Christina Rosati	....	additional casting (English dubbed version)
David H. Kramer	....	adr voice casting (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Gaelle Allen	....	costumer
Angela Anzimani	....	seamstress
Giovanna Anzimani	....	seamstress
Alma Barbieri	....	workshop tailor
Giampiero Grassi	....	workshop tailor
Metka Kosak	....	assistant costume designer (as Metka Koschak)
Simona Mattei	....	seamstress
Raoul Settimelli	....	assistant costume designer
Alessandra Torella	....	assistant costume designer
Emanuele Zito	....	assistant costume designer

Editorial Department
Benni Atria	....	assistant editor: avid
Maddalena Colombo	....	assistant editor: avid
Pasquale Cuzzupoli	....	color timer
Giorgia Onofri	....	assistant editor
Irma Misantoni	....	second assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Damiano Antinori	....	assistant music mixer
Pasquale Filastò	....	music assistant: Ars Nova
Giuseppe Gabetti	....	composer: "Marcia Reale"
Angelo Giovagnoli	....	music coordinator
Nicola Piovani	....	conductor
Nicola Piovani	....	music arranger
Nicola Piovani	....	orchestrator
Fabio Venturi	....	music mixer
Fabio Venturi	....	music recordist (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Raffaele Bello	....	production driver
Valerio Berlini	....	production driver
Spartaco Calanchini	....	production driver
Stefano Ceppi	....	production driver
Abel Fasano	....	production driver
Claudio Pitotti	....	production driver
Massimo Rossi	....	production driver
Balilla Santoro	....	production driver
Giovanni Scuro	....	production driver
Giuseppe Serra	....	production driver
Sergio Verdecchia	....	production driver

Other crew
Marco Albertini	....	assistant production secretary
Ettore Balducci	....	stills laboratory
Roberto Benigni	....	presenter
Ilaria Borrelli	....	director: Joshua (English dubbed version)
Michele Brown	....	assistant to executive producer (English dubbed version)
Cristiana Caimmi	....	unit publicist
Mario Cecchi Gori	....	presenter: English dubbed version
Vittorio Cecchi Gori	....	presenter: English dubbed version
Giuseppe Ceci	....	caterer
Giulio Cestari	....	business consultant: Melampo Cin.ca
Piera Cimino	....	workshop tailor
Valentina Cotone	....	assistant production secretary
Katia Crispino	....	stand-in: Mr. Braschi
Roberto Dell'Acqua	....	stand-in: Mr. Benigni
Elisa di Serio	....	workshop tailor (as Elisa Di Serio)
Franco Fantini	....	head administrator
Maria Vittoria Filipponi	....	cashier
Luigi Gatto	....	dyer
Marina Grappelli	....	administrator
Leda Lojodice	....	choreographer
Irene Macri	....	workshop tailor
Maurizio Maggi	....	bulbs and gels: International Set Lighting
Lilene Mansell	....	dialect coach: Jonathan Nichols, English dubbed version
Giovanna Montevecchi	....	workshop tailor
Ettore Musco	....	assistant production secretary
Nando Nibbi	....	production assistant
Attilio Pettirossi	....	caterer
Marcello Pezzetti	....	historical advisor: Center for Documentation of Contemporary Judaism, Milano
Mandella Quilici	....	production secretary
Emanuela Riganelli	....	production secretary
Nicoletta Rossana	....	dyer
Fabiano Rubeo	....	cashier
Giulia Saccucci	....	administrator
Olivia Sleiter	....	production assistant
Antonio Smiraglia	....	caterer
Enrico Sollazzo	....	production secretary
Luigi Spoletini	....	assistant: Mr. Benigni
Jeffrey Tahler	....	assistant to executive producer (English dubbed version)
Vittorio Torrieri	....	workshop tailor
Giorgio Vecchi	....	groupman
Daniele Cama	....	assistant: Mr. Benigni (uncredited)
Giovanni Marino	....	assistant: Mr. Benigni (uncredited)
Paila Pavese	....	voice dubbing: Marisa Paredes (uncredited)

Thanks
Stefano Bartezzaghi	....	special thanks
Rossella Belli	....	the producers wish to thank: La Soc. Fedora
Maurizio Benvenuti	....	the producers wish to thank: La Soc. Fedora
Sonia Berrettini	....	the producers wish to thank: La Soc. Fedora
Claudio Burlando	....	the producers wish to thank: Minister of Transportation
Franco Casaglieri	....	thanks
Demofilo Fidani	....	special thanks: Auschwitz survivor (as Nedo Fidano)
Mariangela Gualtieri	....	special thanks
John Hadity	....	special thanks: English dubbed version
L. Picciotto Fargion	....	special thanks: Auschwitz survivor (as Liliana Picciotto Fargion)
Marco Pisini	....	thanks
Valerio Veltroni	....	thanks
Schlomo Venezia	....	special thanks: Auschwitz survivor

Production Companies

• Cecchi Gori Group Tiger Cinematografica (as Cecchi Gori Group)
• Melampo Cinematografica
• Cecchi Gori Pictures

Distributors

• Cecchi Gori Distribuzione (1997) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Ascot Elite Entertainment Group (1998) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Asmik Ace Entertainment (1999) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Bac Films (1998) (France) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (Sweden) (1999) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (1999) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Filmes Castello Lopes (1999) (Portugal) (theatrical)
• Laurenfilm (1999) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Miramax Films (1998) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• RCV Film Distribution (1998) (Belgium) (theatrical)
• RCV Film Distribution (1998) (Luxembourg) (theatrical)
• RCV Film Distribution (1998) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Scotia International Filmverleih (1998) (Germany) (theatrical)
• BMG Video (199?) (Germany) (VHS)
• Gativideo (1999) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Gativideo (2002) (Argentina) (DVD)
• New Films International (1998) (Non-USA) (all media)
• Paris Vídeo (Brazil) (DVD)
• Paris Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• RCV Home Entertainment (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD) (limited edition steelbook)
• SBP (2011) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Universum Film (UFA) (2003) (Germany) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Ditta G. Corridori

Other Companies

• A.N.C.A.  animals
• A.T.A. S.r.l. Conti Bros.  period military vehicles & equipment (as A.T.A. S.r.l. - Roma)
• Accademia Musicale Italiana (AMIT)  orchestra
• Acqua Amerino  the producers wish to thank
• Agripan  the producers wish to thank
• Ars Nova  musical assistance
• Associazione A.D.A.Mus.  the producers wish to thank
• Audiovisual System  sound editing equipment
• Avid Film Composer  film editing
• Avid Technology  audio/video systems (as Avid Technologies Inc.)
• Centro Fromazione Professionale di Narni  the producers wish to thank
• Centro Multimediale Terni  sound stages
• Cine Audio Effects  sound effects and foley design
• Comando Vigili Urbani - Arezzo  the producers wish to thank
• Comando della Regione Militare Tosco-Emiliana  the producers wish to thank
• Comune di Arezzo  the producers wish to thank
• Comune di Castiglion Fibocchi (Arezzo)  the producers wish to thank
• Comune di Castiglion Fiorentino (Arezzo)  the producers wish to thank
• Comune di Cortona (Arezzo)  the producers wish to thank
• Comune di Ferentillo  the producers wish to thank
• Comune di Montevarchi (Arezzo)  the producers wish to thank
• Comune di Ronciglione  the producers wish to thank
• Comune di Spoleto  the producers wish to thank
• Comune di Terni  the producers wish to thank
• Cose Care, Cesena  jewelry (as Cose Care - Cesena)
• Costumi d'Arte  wardrobe house (as Costumi d'Arte - Roma)
• De Pasquale Mariano  period military vehicles & equipment (as De Pasquale Mariano - Latina)
• Ditta L.A.B.A.  jewelry
• Ditta Pompei  shoes (as Ditta Pompei - Roma)
• EMI Music Publishing  organization and coordination (as EMI Music Publishing Italia S r l)
• Ente Nazionale Energia Elettrica (ENEL)  the producers wish to thank (as ENEL - Compartimento di Terni)
• Fedora Company  the producers wish to thank (as The Fedora Company)
• Fila  set design
• Film Apprenticeship Program  the producers wish to thank
• Fono Roma  mixing studio
• Forum Music Village  music recorded at (as Studio Form Music Village of Rome)
• Garzotto Rocco e Figlio  set design
• German School New York  special thanks: English dubbed version
• Hopkins, Smith & Barden  voice casting: English dubbed version (as Hopkins Smith Barden Casting)
• Howard Schwartz Recording  recorded at: English dubbed version (as Howard Schwartz Recording)
• Industrie Riunite  set design
• International Set Lighting  bulbs and gels
• Intesa  props management
• La Scuola D'Italia "Guglielmo" Marconi  special thanks: English dubbed version
• Mercedes Italia  transportation (as Mercedes Italia S p.a.)
• Ministry of Transportation  the producers wish to thank
• Mobilvetta Design  transportation
• Molinari  set design
• Murray Weissman and Associates  marketing and promotion (uncredited)
• Musical Band Lo Zivago  the producers wish to thank
• Musical Band of Bevagna  the producers wish to thank
• Nannini  set design
• Panalight  cameras (as Panalight - Roma)
• Panavision UK  anamorphic lenses (as Panavision-UK)
• Paoloni (Fano)  carpentry equipment (as Paoloni - Fano)
• Pentastudio  titles and effects
• Peroni  set design
• Ponteggi Dalmine  construction tubing
• Province of Terni  the producers wish to thank (as The Province of Terni)
• Provincia di Arezzo  the producers wish to thank (as The Provincia di Arezzo)
• R.T.A. Frosinone  special shipping
• Regione Umbria  the producers wish to thank (as The Region of Umbria)
• Romana Gruppi Elettrogeni  shipping
• Romana Trasporti  shipping
• Sapori  set design
• Scuola Elementare "Gamurrini" (Arezzo)  the producers wish to thank
• Società per Azioni delle Acque di S. Francesco  the producers wish to thank
• Sound One Corporation  re-recorded at: English dubbed version
• Sound One Corporation  recorded at: English dubbed version
• Soundtrack Recording  recorded at: English dubbed version
• Strega Alberti  set design
• Tecno Bay  construction gesso
• Ufficio Provinciale del Lavoro - Arezzo  the producers wish to thank
• Ufficio Provinciale del Lavoro di Terni  the producers wish to thank

Also Known As:

"La vita è bella" - Italy (original title)
"Life is Beautiful" - Japan (English title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for holocaust-related thematic elements

Runtime:

116 min | USA:118 min (English dubbed version)

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian | German | English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Belgium:KT | Chile:TE | Finland:K-12 | France:U | Germany:6 (bw) | Hong Kong:IIA | Italy:T | Netherlands:AL | New Zealand:M | Norway:7 | Peru:14 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | Spain:T | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | UK:PG | USA:PG-13 | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Iceland:L | Ireland:PG | South Korea:All | Brazil:Livre | Mexico:B

Filming Locations:

Ronciglione, Viterbo, Lazio, Italy

Company:

Cecchi Gori Group Tiger Cinematografica

Trivia:

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).

Goofs:

Continuity: When Dora kisses Guido under the table, her head is tilted to the right then is tilted to the left in the next shot.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Giosué Orefice:[narrating as an adult] This is a simple story... but not an easy one to tell.

Movie Connections:

References Rome, Open City (1945)

Soundtrack:

Belle nuit (Barcarolle)

The most aptly named movie - A classic

I have never in my life seen a movie that so truly symbolizes its name and its message. Roberto Benigni - 'The Italian Treasure House' has probably given to his viewers his best. The story, the performances, the entire theme of a person performing his duties as a husband, as a father is very 'moving' and inspiring. 'Life is beautiful' as the name goes is about a Jewish man, who falls in love with a non-Jewish lady, marries her, has a kid and who is then taken as a prisoner in a concentration camp along with his wife and kid. But the way he protects his kid from the horrors of the genocide, how he always tries to find ways to make his wife and kid smile and laugh, is what makes the movie, a MUST SEE.

It is certainly one of the best movies that I have seen.