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Life Is Beautiful
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Life Is Beautiful

1997
Comedy
Drama
1h 56m
From one of the world's most acclaimed comic filmmakers comes an unexpected and unforgettable fable about the power of laughter to move the human heart and the power of the imagination to bolster the human spirit. (Miramax Films)
Directed by:
Roberto Benigni Roberto Benigni
Written by:
Roberto Benigni Roberto Benigni Vincenzo Cerami Vincenzo Cerami
+1 more
Starring:
Marisa Paredes Marisa Paredes Roberto Benigni Roberto Benigni Nicoletta Braschi Nicoletta Braschi Giustino Durano Giustino Durano Sergio Bustric Giorgio Cantarini Giorgio Cantarini Horst Buchholz Horst Buchholz Pietro De Silva Pietro De Silva Giuliana Lojodice Giuliana Lojodice Amerigo Fontani Francesco Guzzo Aaron Craig
More
Genres:
Comedy, Drama, War
AKAs:
La vita è bella, La vie est belle
Country:
Italy
Languages:
English, Italian, German
imdb More information at IMDb
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Life Is Beautiful

1997
Comedy
Drama
1h 56m
Your probable score
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer
Avg Percentile 71.62% from 9957 total ratings
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

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pickpocketPickpocket
Rated 01 Dec 2006
9
93rd
Funny, heartbreaking and tragic. Life is Beautiful solidifies that Fellini was right in calling Benigni a genius. He really hammers home the point that a child's innocence is worth protecting.
Rated 01 Dec 2006
hawkinsHawkins
Rated 21 Jul 2023
42
9th
Ernest Goes to Death Camp.
Rated 21 Jul 2023
lauratronlauratron
Rated 31 Jan 2009
59
18th
Italy's answer to Pee Wee Herman gets sent to a concentration camp; it's about as funny as Anne Frank's diary.
Rated 31 Jan 2009
kafka1325kafka1325
Rated 17 Feb 2007
94
99th
Certainly one of the touching films I ever see. If you do not understaind this film well you are quite cold and stupid man.
Rated 17 Feb 2007
moribunnyMoribunny
Rated 14 Aug 2007
0
0th
The Holocaust wasn't so bad, it was kind of like a summer camp. If only Jews were to take it with a grain of salt, have some fun during it. So the Germans weren't nice, so what? It's not like it was dehumanization and the systematic torture and massacre of millions or anything (besides, Jews had it coming to them for the crucifixion). This in essence is Benigni's underlying message in this movie. And the more scrutiny it is subjected to the more it astounds in its deliberation and forethought.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
davidblastDavidBlast
Rated 20 Mar 2010
85
88th
No matter how cynically you choose to scrutinize this movie's execution (no pun intended), tone or even clown Benigni himself, there's no two ways around the fact that placing a comedy inside the holocaust is as brave an idea as it is brilliant.
Rated 20 Mar 2010
cinemaddictcinemaddict
Rated 20 Oct 2007
0
1st
My favorite genre... Holocaust comedies.
Rated 20 Oct 2007
lexlex
Rated 23 Feb 2013
85
67th
With the charm and character of a light-hearted silent film and the melodrama of a holocaust story, the blending isn't always seamless and natural, but it does create a product of originality and sheer beauty.
Rated 23 Feb 2013
chiliChili
Rated 14 Aug 2007
95
92nd
The best depiction of the importance of imagination.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
sophiesophie
Rated 08 Apr 2008
95
98th
So sad yet beautiful.
Rated 08 Apr 2008
overratedoverrated
Rated 25 Jan 2010
16
9th
There's a reason why The Day The Clown Cried wasn't released.
Rated 25 Jan 2010
eric_janeric-jan
Rated 26 Jan 2009
80
88th
One unbelievable scene scarred my life the day I first saw this movie.
Rated 26 Jan 2009
muutanetmuutanet
Rated 10 Feb 2009
79
82nd
Is it possile to make a comedy out of concentration camps? Only Benigni's got the balls to do it. So, extra score for a fresh point of view.
Rated 10 Feb 2009
martintellerMartinTeller
Rated 06 Feb 2011
80
66th
Definitely not the atrocity I envisioned. The film is really quite charming, often beautiful, and genuinely moving. The first hour is especially good, with some fine moments of humor. Benigni's a bit too delighted with himself, but he has some talent for comedy. Continuing the comedy into the second half it something that just shouldn't work, but he pulls it off. Admittedly, it's a fantasy version of a concentration camp, but if you accept the movie on its own terms, it has its rewards.
Rated 06 Feb 2011
wicheWiche
Rated 04 Jan 2010
94
98th
The title says it all actually. Very hard title which left me with some mixed feelings. Pain, anger, love, ... This is one of the most charming, yet most painfully direct movies I've ever seen. Really touched me.
Rated 04 Jan 2010
glumpy99glumpy_99
Rated 16 Sep 2019
45
8th
Benigni's intentions are good, but at its foundation this "comedy" is incredibly wrong-headed, never able to reconcile the horrors of the second half with the sanitised child's games (and simplistic child's world) presented. For this to work, it would have needed to move much darker in the second half, or else switch entirely to "through the eyes of a child". As it is, it's a half baked compromise, emerging as naïve and facile. Well crafted production-wise, with some fine set and costume design
Rated 16 Sep 2019
wetwillieswetwillies
Rated 24 Jan 2014
50
4th
Not as bad as I expected it to be, but still extremely misguided in its treatment of the Holocaust and its views towards tragedy. There is one scene in the film that I love, which is Benigni pretending to translate the German into Italian, but instead makes up a bunch of bullshit rules for his bullshit game.
Rated 24 Jan 2014
walkearthwalkearth
Rated 19 Jun 2023
50
37th
Massive problem with suspension of disbelief here, particularly in the second half of the film, where actions and consequences were sporadic and often followed no rules and logic. The first half of the film was excellent, but it rapidly descended into huge levels of unbelievability, and albeit several intriguing scenes in the second half of the film, the broken causality of the film and the one-sided characters proved too big of a weight for me to enjoy this.
Rated 19 Jun 2023
hanneHanne
Rated 06 Mar 2007
74
77th
Still moves me everytime I watch it.
Rated 06 Mar 2007
alex_watkinsAlex Watkins
Rated 16 Mar 2007
2
15th
Very okay. I mean, just read the synopsis to the left, does that sound fucking cheesy or what? And that about sums it up. Pretty decent, surprisingly emotional, cheesy and hokey...yeah.
Rated 16 Mar 2007
corbadCorbad
Rated 19 Jun 2019
95
99th
An incredibly beautiful picture. The first half is one of the greatest movie love stories of all time, and the second half is pure exquisite emotion. The story is fantastically original and Roberto Benigni deserves every accolade for his performance and direction. A magnificent film.
Rated 19 Jun 2019
ocelotOcelot
Rated 24 Feb 2014
20
12th
A bloated, 50 minute prologue that manages to tell its story worse than Up did in less than 10 minutes swerves into Disney's Schindler's List. I understand (and agree with) the necessity to preserve a child's innocence, but the idea that it was possible in the Holocaust is naive at best and horribly insulting at worst. Guido and his son would've gotten killed in like two seconds, but because the Nazis are basically the camp counselors in Heavyweights, we get a stupid, saccharine ending. Boooooo.
Rated 24 Feb 2014
nick007nick_007
Rated 17 May 2007
100
99th
Brought tears to my eyes. One of the most touching movies I've ever seen.
Rated 17 May 2007
kakkikakki
Rated 26 May 2007
95
95th
Beauty in life even during the war.
Rated 26 May 2007
huychuHuychu
Rated 01 Jul 2007
32
8th
Roberto Benigni is a twat.
Rated 01 Jul 2007
cwaitscwaits
Rated 06 May 2011
84
66th
Pinnochio gets shot in the end.
Rated 06 May 2011
woodoowoodoo
Rated 08 Apr 2010
40
7th
Weirdly maudlin and inappropriate tone considering the subject matter. An inferior take on "Day the Clown Cried".
Rated 08 Apr 2010
kairostimeKairos_Time
Rated 14 Aug 2007
95
92nd
A Family-Drama at its finest, and in Italian. Cute love sequence, followed by an amazing, funny, and clever story of a father's attempt to convince his son that Life is Beautiful.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
corleoneCorleone
Rated 18 Jun 2011
90
97th
... it most certainly is.
Rated 18 Jun 2011
anchoviesanchovies
Rated 07 Oct 2010
45
23rd
There's nothing subtle or subversive about this film. Rather than providing the audience an opportunity to process the horrors in front of them, this movie hurls everything before our eyes to wring out our sadness and empathy. What could have been a beautifully delicate story is instead an overwrought schmaltzfest with a terribly clunky ending. A movie should earn its tears, not manipulate them.
Rated 07 Oct 2010
thedicemanTheDiceman
Rated 14 Aug 2007
70
82nd
Touching story and a great film.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
triletrile
Rated 14 Aug 2007
100
98th
FANTASTIC! this is how war movies are made. America can never do that!
Rated 14 Aug 2007
lisa_iilisa-
Rated 30 Nov 2014
1
1st
the holocaust, according to roberto benigni: http://tinyurl.com/k8mgxpb
Rated 30 Nov 2014
peaceanarchyPeaceAnarchy
Rated 14 Aug 2007
79
57th
I didn't think I'd like this, and for the first half hour it was exactly the silly comedy I was afraid it would be. The gags were stupid and predictable and Benigni's mugging for the camera got on my nerves. It started to find a better balance as it went on, though, and kicked into gear in the second half. It was still silly, but in more subdued and thoughtful way. The comedy was used to counterbalance a more serious plot and it worked much better. By the end I was actually liking the film
Rated 14 Aug 2007
stflyst_fly
Rated 21 Aug 2007
78
77th
good, a jewish man tries to shield his son from the horrific realities of a nazi internment camp.
Rated 21 Aug 2007
nimnonimno
Rated 12 Sep 2007
97
98th
This was a heart-warming, gut-wrenching film. It was joyous and sad at the same time. Roberto Benigni was at the top in this movie. I drove miles and brought both of my high-school age (at the time) daughters to see this film. A film like this is a once-in-a-lifetime event I think.
Rated 12 Sep 2007
caimancaiman
Rated 26 Mar 2011
90
92nd
One of the best mixtures of comedy and drama I have ever seen. It reminded me strongly of Charlie Chaplin - a larger than life character interacting in a very real world. And it doesn't get much more real (and horrific) than the setting of this film. Somehow Benigni is able to perform a perfect tight rope act between the horrors of the holocaust and his own great sense of humor. Funny, endearing and quite sad.
Rated 26 Mar 2011
jarmannJarmann
Rated 09 Nov 2007
75
53rd
Crying and laughing at the same time.
Rated 09 Nov 2007
onedayflyonedayfly
Rated 27 Jan 2008
95
99th
Clever and moving, dramatic and comical depiction of life in WOII. LiKED: Roberto Begnini's acting, the combination of humour and drama. DiSLiKED: -
Rated 27 Jan 2008
shmendrekShmendrek
Rated 01 Feb 2008
1
10th
The Holocaust was actually pretty fun!
Rated 01 Feb 2008
nepetaNepeta
Rated 10 Jan 2013
0
0th
A reprehensible film that airbrushes up the Holocaust to make it palatable (thus trivialising it) and, probably unintentionally, presents ignorance as liberating. It doesn't help that Roberto Benigni is a very unfunny and annoying screen presence, and that Giorgio Cantarini is somehow even more annoying. Or that the writing and directing is uniformly pathetic: it's condescending, cloying, childish and exploitative. Capitalising on real life tragedy for the purposes of entertainment...
Rated 10 Jan 2013
nandorizzinandorizzi
Rated 09 Mar 2008
100
99th
Splendorous script. A sensitive and quite humoured movie.
Rated 09 Mar 2008
luna6ixLuna6ix
Rated 17 May 2008
85
89th
up until the ending, this movie is immaculate, but that ending was a damned klunker, really with only the intent to tear jerk you rather than make it a better movie.
Rated 17 May 2008
tuerdatuerda
Rated 04 May 2016
88
86th
The first half of this movie is one of the funniest comedies you will ever see. The second half is a pretty good drama. The link between the two pieces is not quite clean, mostly being different stories with the same characters, but that is easy to forgive, especially after the true excellence of the first story.
Rated 04 May 2016
vandelay1Vandelay1
Rated 31 Jul 2008
78
89th
good movie
Rated 31 Jul 2008
mentaculusMentaculus
Rated 10 Sep 2008
34
10th
Bad score on principle.
Rated 10 Sep 2008
imthatdingoImThatDingo
Rated 07 Jan 2009
97
96th
Only really good in original Italian. In English, you lose alot of the emotion and feeling behind the characters. If you understand Italian, or don't mind reading subtitles..I'd definitely suggest seeing that one!
Rated 07 Jan 2009
petrostserPetrosTser
Rated 27 Jul 2010
100
99th
The first part is an occasionally hilarious romantic comedy, typical of Benigni. The second part is a heartbreaking war film capable of eliciting profound despair. Blessed with an excellent score and remarkable performances and bravely dealing with racism, isolation, family, love, life and death, "Life Is Beautiful" isn't a film to miss.
Rated 27 Jul 2010
nunstranglernunstrangler
Rated 25 Feb 2011
100
95th
The notion of a "feel-good Holocaust comedy" shouldn't work. But Benigni's stunning epic is not, at its core, a Holocaust movie, but rather a story of endurance of family love.
Rated 25 Feb 2011
davisty69davisty69
Rated 17 Jan 2011
88
80th
Depressing, yet utterly beautiful
Rated 17 Jan 2011
le_mamile mami
Rated 28 Dec 2014
35
23rd
Message on this movie is very clear : I'm dying for the Oscar and I'm gonna take it
Rated 28 Dec 2014
dorkovskyDorkovsky
Rated 06 Jun 2010
2
3rd
Whoa, this movie is deplorable. It's not as if it is completely impossible to tackle the Holocaust with humor (see: The Great Dictator, The Shop on Main Street) but here Benigni seems to think it's ok (and comedic!!) to lie to people to shield them from the horrors around them. Yes, I agree that ignorance is in fact bliss but I never thought someone would actually advocate this as something to strive for.
Rated 06 Jun 2010
freshFresh
Rated 21 Jul 2011
80
54th
Benigni's earnest charm, when not overstepping its bounds into the unnecessarily treacly, offers the possibility of hope in the face of unflinching.
Rated 21 Jul 2011
chuchaquiChuchaqui
Rated 30 Nov 2006
72
37th
Controversial film because of its comedic character set in a Nazi concentration camp. However I found the shocking scenes even more shocking as they might have been in a tragedy. Good film.
Rated 30 Nov 2006
vincentevincente
Rated 09 Feb 2007
33
14th
null
Rated 09 Feb 2007
teddedonTedDedon
Rated 18 Mar 2007
81
63rd
Though it's unrealistic, Life is Beautiful is an emotionally touching movie that everyone can relate to in some way.
Rated 18 Mar 2007
penguinragePenguinRage
Rated 06 Dec 2010
76
50th
A sad and tragic story based in Italy during WWII. The movie begins with comedy and ends in tragedy. Roberto Benigni (Guido Orefice) does everything in his power to protect and love his family despite the challenges he faces. Please watch this movie.
Rated 06 Dec 2010
fredericg54frederic_g54
Rated 29 May 2007
9
90th
In typical Chaplin fashion - Benigni's hero - 'La vita è bella' admirably and carefully weaves together humor and pathos and serves as a powerful reminder of the lengths to which a loving parent is prepared to go in order to preserve his child's happiness.
Rated 29 May 2007
00120012
Rated 23 Jun 2007
97
96th
Benigni may seem a bit manipulative, but I have a hard time not weeping by the time the closing credits come around.
Rated 23 Jun 2007
budcortbudcort
Rated 27 Jun 2007
85
55th
Touching and funny.
Rated 27 Jun 2007
adam_p_dAdam P-D
Rated 25 Oct 2021
90
99th
Impossibly light and heavy at the same time.
Rated 25 Oct 2021
ronthedogronthedog
Rated 30 Nov 2010
69
7th
The interesting thing about this is the placing of comedy within the gruesome situation of the holocaust. However, this good work is undermined by the pretty disgraceful airbrushing over of the grim realities of a death camp in the service of family viewing which can't work both ways. Combine this with the straight-line narrative (yet with the suspensions of reality where convenient) and sentimentality for sentimentality's sake and what you end up with is thought provoking tat.
Rated 30 Nov 2010
servantdagonServantDagon
Rated 14 Aug 2007
90
83rd
The definition of heart-warming. If you can stand Benigni.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
baskilbaskil
Rated 14 Aug 2007
92
84th
Heartbreaking
Rated 14 Aug 2007
ceekay19Ceekay19
Rated 12 Feb 2020
70
54th
Guido: "The game starts now. You have to score one thousand points. If you do that, you take home a tank with a big gun. Each day we will announce the scores from that loudspeaker. The one who has the fewest points will have to wear a sign that says "Jackass" on his back. There are three ways to lose points. One, turning into a big crybaby. Two, telling us you want to see your mommy. Three, saying you're hungry and want something to eat."
Rated 12 Feb 2020
jrc85JRC_85
Rated 14 Aug 2007
100
98th
In my top three. I cried almost the whole time, which is a big deal. Because I don't cry at movies.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
nancysidnancysid
Rated 14 Aug 2007
90
86th
movie is pretty damn good!
Rated 14 Aug 2007
galnigalni
Rated 01 Sep 2007
50
15th
Overrated, overrated, overrated
Rated 01 Sep 2007
itsbenitsben
Rated 09 Aug 2018
80
86th
this movie has me sobbing
Rated 09 Aug 2018
judge_holdenJudge Holden
Rated 04 Mar 2010
1
4th
Hahaha
Rated 04 Mar 2010
ktappektappe
Rated 13 Feb 2008
62
31st
Overly maudlin and manipulative of the viewer.
Rated 13 Feb 2008
beautyblissBeautyBliss
Rated 09 Dec 2017
90
91st
Who would think it was possible to make a comedy about the holocaust. Yet here it is. Magnificent. If a little unbelievable.
Rated 09 Dec 2017
pseudoelfpseudoelf
Rated 30 Jul 2011
80
71st
Italian is beautiful.
Rated 30 Jul 2011
jlgrauperajlgraupera
Rated 13 Apr 2008
60
23rd
One of the few films I got slept in the cinema
Rated 13 Apr 2008
adrianavbadrianavb
Rated 16 Apr 2008
67
64th
I hate the guy!
Rated 16 Apr 2008
patmanpatman
Rated 20 May 2014
78
89th
Guido, an over the top character, a goofy comedian, always optimistic and making the best out of every situation. He uses his wits and charm to win over the beautiful Dora and they raise a boy together. Then the movie takes a gutsy jump from a comedy to a tragedy as they're brought to an concentration camp. Being a comedian in such a horrific situation, Guido shows the power of human spirit in a sad but beautiful world.
Rated 20 May 2014
nothingsgoodNothingsGood
Rated 22 Mar 2011
10
5th
There's just not much here I can enjoy. The sentiment is appreciated, but the movie itself rarely makes me smile and plods to an inevitable conclusion.
Rated 22 Mar 2011
lonewolf2003Lonewolf2003
Rated 03 Dec 2014
88
95th
One of those big love-or-hate movies here, count me in the love camp still. I laughed and I cried. One of the biggest complaint from haters is how it trivializes the enormous horrors of the holocaust. But to me turning a camp into some a ludicrous child's game just shows how truly absurd the whole concept of the endlösung really is.
Rated 03 Dec 2014
cheeseclarkcheeseclark
Rated 04 Aug 2008
88
81st
Arggh painful good
Rated 04 Aug 2008
irvinejumpirvinejump
Rated 07 Aug 2008
70
61st
Roberto Begnini deserves the Oscar he got for this.
Rated 07 Aug 2008
flipflopflipflop
Rated 13 Aug 2008
92
92nd
Inspiring and GOOD!
Rated 13 Aug 2008
monisitMonisit
Rated 18 Apr 2016
85
74th
I absolutely loved the movie the first time I watched it and it absolutely destroyed me emotionally, but every subsequent viewing of this film I find more and more wrong with it. Definitely not perfect, but still effective.
Rated 18 Apr 2016
lell186lell186
Rated 02 Feb 2022
3
28th
The comedy didn't really do too much for me (reading english subs) but overall it wasn't too bad. Wouldn't run around recommending it.
Rated 02 Feb 2022
obidyObidy
Rated 17 Sep 2010
8
47th
Roberto Benigni is unapologetic in his sentimentality in La Vita è Bella, and the movie's two halves, one something of a screwball comedy, and the other a Holocaust story, don't mesh perfectly. While Spielberg did a good job of not allowing himself too much sentimentality in Schindler's List, La Vita è Bella is awash in it, and it's the chief flaw of an otherwise great movie.
Rated 17 Sep 2010
yawkcorbyawkcorb
Rated 11 Feb 2010
90
87th
This is a very moving film. It has some humor and fun in it, but it is mostly a tragic and sad, sad story. I don't usually get worked up over movies, but I really cared about these characters and I was close to tearing up at the end.
Rated 11 Feb 2010
daniellanDaniellaN
Rated 13 Oct 2008
80
70th
Beautiful but sad.
Rated 13 Oct 2008
ladybugLadyBug
Rated 15 Oct 2008
90
75th
absolutely beautiful
Rated 15 Oct 2008
bluewasabiibluewasabii
Rated 13 Nov 2008
100
99th
this movie is so perfect
Rated 13 Nov 2008
ceyhunk26ceyhunk26
Rated 16 Jan 2016
92
99th
Plot 18/20 Fiction 18/20 Casting/Acting 20/20 Worldbuilding 18/20 Entertainment 18/20
Rated 16 Jan 2016
mohsen152mohsen152
Rated 07 Jan 2012
80
34th
It was getting nice. Then started talking about sth!
Rated 07 Jan 2012
friscalatefriscalate
Rated 03 Feb 2009
90
50th
Beautiful story, great characters.
Rated 03 Feb 2009
myfavchordsmyfavchords
Rated 26 Dec 2011
88
94th
Life is beautiful and so is this movie!
Rated 26 Dec 2011
john_quixoteJohn Quixote
Rated 14 Jun 2010
95
92nd
One of the most heartwarming movies I've ever seen. I cried. A lot.
Rated 14 Jun 2010
lovelyricha1lovelyricha1
Rated 09 Apr 2009
85
84th
many ppl say it makes fun or light of holocaust..i dont see how that is possible, all it tries to do is show the extent to wich parents wud go to protect their child-in this case, to shield an only son from the horrors of holocaust-racism,bigotry,prejudice, cruelty, war...dis movie is realistic, magical and mesmerizing..worth many many watches and definitely deserves a lot of applause.
Rated 09 Apr 2009
ndotsndots
Rated 03 May 2009
85
69th
Beautiful!
Rated 03 May 2009
adoomoot3a_doomoot3
Rated 28 May 2009
19
13th
OMG! THE HOLOCAUST IS SOOOO CUTE! LMFAO! Uggh. Clown school for masochists.
Rated 28 May 2009
saharkoganisaharkogani
Rated 03 Apr 2020
88
75th
inspiring,humane
Rated 03 Apr 2020
myszatekMyszatek
Rated 08 Sep 2009
89
93rd
Amazing story that makes you laugh through tears.
Rated 08 Sep 2009
pampaPampa
Rated 01 Nov 2009
100
97th
Esencial
Rated 01 Nov 2009
poictesmepoictesme
Rated 05 Nov 2009
4
15th
Nothing wrong with WWII exploitation movies, I suppose. This one being a comedy it probably deserves higher marks than other well-known anguish-porno efforts. The real problem here, is Benigni himself, who used to be an excellent stand-up comedian, but who is definitely not an actor, nor a director. In fact, he is one of the great erasers of suspension of disbelief, having the uncanny ability of making any movie he is in, completely unbelievable and uninteresting. Not even Tom Cruise is that bad
Rated 05 Nov 2009

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