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Life Is Beautiful

Original title: La vita è bella
  • 19971997
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 1h 56m
IMDb RATING
8.6/10
677K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
682
97
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Roberto Benigni, Nicoletta Braschi, and Giorgio Cantarini in La vita è bella (1997)
Watch {VideoTitle}
Play trailer1:33
2 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Comedy
  • Drama
  • Romance

When an open-minded Jewish waiter 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... Read allWhen an open-minded Jewish waiter 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.When an open-minded Jewish waiter 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.

IMDb RATING
8.6/10
677K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
682
97
  • Director
    • Roberto Benigni
  • Writers
    • Vincenzo Cerami(story by)
    • Roberto Benigni(story by)
  • Stars
    • Roberto Benigni
    • Nicoletta Braschi
    • Giorgio Cantarini
Top credits
  • Director
    • Roberto Benigni
  • Writers
    • Vincenzo Cerami(story by)
    • Roberto Benigni(story by)
  • Stars
    • Roberto Benigni
    • Nicoletta Braschi
    • Giorgio Cantarini
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 1.4KUser reviews
    • 153Critic reviews
    • 59Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Top rated movie #25
    • Won 3 Oscars
      • 72 wins & 52 nominations total

    Videos2

    Trailer originale italiano [OV]
    Trailer 1:33
    Trailer originale italiano [OV]
    Life is Beautiful
    Trailer 1:27
    Life is Beautiful

    Photos143

    Roberto Benigni in La vita è bella (1997)
    Roberto Benigni and Giorgio Cantarini in La vita è bella (1997)
    Guido, Dora & Giosue
    Guido, Dora & Giosue
    Roberto Benigni in his Oscar®-winning role as Guido Orefice
    Nicoletta Braschi stars as Dora
    Giorgio Cantarini stars as Giosue
    Guido & Giosue
    Rosanna Arquette at an event for La vita è bella (1997)
    Roberto Benigni and Nicoletta Braschi at an event for La vita è bella (1997)
    Roberto Benigni and Nicoletta Braschi at an event for La vita è bella (1997)
    Nicoletta Braschi at an event for La vita è bella (1997)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Roberto Benigni
    Roberto Benigni
    • Guidoas Guido
    Nicoletta Braschi
    Nicoletta Braschi
    • Doraas Dora
    Giorgio Cantarini
    Giorgio Cantarini
    • Giosuéas Giosué
    Giustino Durano
    • Zioas Zio
    Sergio Bini Bustric
    • Ferruccioas Ferruccio
    • (as Sergio Bustric)
    Marisa Paredes
    Marisa Paredes
    • Madre di Doraas Madre di Dora
    Horst Buchholz
    Horst Buchholz
    • Dottor Lessingas Dottor Lessing
    • (as Horst Bucholz)
    Lidia Alfonsi
    Lidia Alfonsi
    • Guicciardinias Guicciardini
    • (as Lydia Alfonsi)
    Giuliana Lojodice
    • Direttrice Didatticaas Direttrice Didattica
    Amerigo Fontani
    Amerigo Fontani
    • Rodolfoas Rodolfo
    Pietro De Silva
    • Bartolomeoas Bartolomeo
    Francesco Guzzo
    • Vittorinoas Vittorino
    Raffaella Lebboroni
    • Elenaas Elena
    Claudio Alfonsi
    • Amico Rodolfoas Amico Rodolfo
    Gil Baroni
    • Prefettoas Prefetto
    Massimo Bianchi
    • Uomo della chiaveas Uomo della chiave
    Jürgen Bohn
    • Attendente tedesco festaas Attendente tedesco festa
    • (as Jurgen Bohn)
    Verena Buratti
    • Ausiliaria tedescaas Ausiliaria tedesca
    • Director
      • Roberto Benigni
    • Writers
      • Vincenzo Cerami(story by) (screenplay by)
      • Roberto Benigni(story by) (screenplay by)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    In 1930s Italy, a carefree Jewish waiter 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. —Anthony Hughes <husnock31@hotmail.com>
    • jewish
    • world war two
    • nazi occupation
    • holocaust
    • tank
    • 80 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • An unforgettable fable that proves love, family and imagination conquer all. (Canadian one sheet)
    • Genres
      • Comedy
      • Drama
      • Romance
      • War
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated PG-13 for holocaust-related thematic elements
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Guido's wife, Dora, is played by Roberto Benigni's real-life wife, Nicoletta Braschi.
    • Goofs
      Dora calls her husband (Roberto Benigni) "Roberto" rather than "Guido" on one occasion.
    • Quotes

      Bartolomeo: They are looking for someone who speaks German, to translate their instructions.

      Guido: Me! I'll do it, I'll translate!

      Bartolomeo: Do you speak German?

      Guido: No.

    • Alternate versions
      The version shown at the Cannes festival in 1998 is slightly different from the original Italian theatrical release: some scenes have been slightly re-edited and a panel has been added at the beginning of the film, showing the phrase "This is a fairy tale", supposedly to avoid controversy over the subject matter.
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Godzilla/Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas/Bulworth/The Horse Whisperer (1998)
    • Soundtracks
      Marcia Reale
      (1831)

      Written by Giuseppe Gabetti (as G. Gabetti)

      Ed. Casa Musicale Pucci di Portici (Napoli)

    User reviews1.4K

    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    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.
    helpful•191
    59
    • gaur-abhi
    • Nov 12, 2005

    FAQ3

    • What is the answer to Dr. Lessing's final riddle?
    • What does the German guard say?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 20, 1997 (Italy)
    • Country of origin
      • Italy
    • Official sites
      • Miramax
      • Official Facebook
    • Languages
      • Italian
      • German
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Cuộc Sống Tươi Đẹp
    • Filming locations
      • Arezzo, Tuscany, Italy
    • Production companies
      • Melampo Cinematografica
      • Cecchi Gori Group Tiger Cinematografica
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $20,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $57,563,264
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $118,920
      • Oct 25, 1998
    • Gross worldwide
      • $230,098,753
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 56 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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