Peppermint Friday Review #41: Life Is Beautiful

Life Is Beautiful is an interesting one, as it a World War II concentration Romantic Comedy. I know those two things should not be in the sentence and it sounds like it shouldn't work but it does. 

Its directed by Robert Benigni who also stars in it as Guido the main character, the story is based on Rubino Romeo Salmoni true life I say based but I'm pretty sure its not word for word. The story is about Guido who is a funny charismatic man, who falls inlove with Dora (played by Nicoletta Braschi) at the beginning she is engaged to a man who's horrible and big-headed. Soon she doesn't love him anymore and falls in love with Guido and they get married and have a son called Giouse. World War II breaks out all of them are sent to a concentration camp, Dora is separated from her husband and son, but Guido trys to pull stunts and pranks to get messages sent to Dora. Guido tells Giouse that this whole thing is a game and they have to reach 1000 points, Guido puts himself at risk to save Dora and Giouse. 

I love Roberto Benigni already, he is just a genius and so funny I'd describe him as the Italian version of Kenneth Branagh where he directs his own stuff and gives himself a main role. I can understand with this film if it offended some people or before it was released people were humming and ahing on whether it was the right choice to make. Simply because the concentration camps and World War II are very sensitive subjects to some people, and to portray it like a joke I can completely understand. But with this story its simply a story of a father who wants to protect his son, and wants his son to not hate anyone because if he told Giouse what was actually going on and its not a game, it would change Giouse's outlook on life/people and his dad. 

One of my favorite moments of the film was the scene in which Guido was translating what the German Soldier was saying was the funniest thing ever, as Guido was trying to ease the tension and make his son laugh, because whatever happens he wants his son to remember to keep smiling no matter what, which is a very positive thing to enforce. Giouse was wonderful to watch, I googled the actor to find out if he's still doing acting but I think the acting career stopped from when he was a child, which is a shame. Roberto Benigni and Nicoletta Braschi were fantastic to watch with such beautiful chemistry not a surprise really as they are both married. 

Another moment I love and shows Guido dedication towards taking care of his son. When Guido wants him to get mixed with the German kids as they are treated much better than when he's at the concentration camp but tells him to say nothing. There's bit where Guido is serving the Germans and the kids and Giouse says 'Grazie' and its a shock as they'll find out he's not German but a Jew, but Guido quickly tries to resolve to situation by teaching the kids Italian. 

                                                                   
This film is a wonderful story, of a man who wants the best for his son and wife its a sad but happy ending as he set out to do the thing he intended to in the first place, which is family at first. I loved how different this film is compared to other films about concentration camps and World War II as it was more about family and love than the history of it itself. You should definitely give this film a watch as its so wonderful, and shows life is beautiful yup I had to throw that in there. I'll see you all later and have great day/weekend wherever you are.

Filmmakers Everyone Should Know

I've been wanting to do a post like this for a while now, as I do champion Actors and Actresses in lead of the film. Theres also the brains behind the operation, some of these directors are not just directors they're writers, like the majority are in a way. I got this book for Christmas its called 'A-Z Great Film Directors' and its so aesthetically pleasing and I love how its planned out with the pictures, and the fantastic artwork of the directors, and how cartoony they're drawn. 

 
 
The way they did Spielberg as Indiana Jones is something I love and makes me very happy. If you want to buy a copy of this book I highly recommend you do, one thing that does annoy me slightly about this book, but thats not the author's fault or publishing company's fault its kinda Hollywood's fault that it just so happens that there hardly any female directors in this book, but again thats a different topic altogether, which I will talk about eventually. The directors I will be talking about some are mention in the book, but some aren't so its not entirely based from this book, and there some directors I haven't even heard of until I read this book! Definitely recommend this book!
                                                         
Steven Spielberg

A director who is so awe-inspiring, I mean everyone knows atleast one of his films. I love the fact that he was 27 when he made Jaws a film that became a huge hit amongst everyone, and its so iconic everyone knows the theme music to Jaws. He made E.T which again is such a classic, and has inspired various TV Shows and Films *cough* Stranger Things *cough*. He's made films that are much more suited for the adults like Saving Private Ryan and Schindler's List, and he's made films for the younger audience like E.T while still telling a story that meaningful and cinematically wonderful to watch as an audience member. 

David Lynch

This man is a strange one, I mean he make Tim Burton look boring and thats saying something. David Lynch is so weird in his approach to film and storytelling I don't find it weird anymore, I just think 'okay cool' I just love the fact that David Lynch is not only a director he's a Writer, Artist, Musician, Photographer and doesn't just do film work, he's written allot of stuff for TV aswell, like Twin Peaks. The Elephant Man and Blue Velvet are probably my favorite David Lynch films, I don't want to talk too much about it as I wanna save them for a separate review as they deserve it. Most directors usually turn up there nose at doing TV but thats what I love about David Lynch he doesn't care, he's such a fantastic storyteller who I adore.

Roberto Benigni

Roberto Benigni is a director I never really hear people talk about, and it annoys me as he is so underrated. He is an Italian Director who won an Oscar for Life is Beautiful in 1998 which was in the Foreign Films Category a Category that noone really care about. He made what I think the best Pinocchio ever, he is in some ways like an Italian Kenneth Branagh he directs his films, but at the same time is in them. I also love his personality in interviews, it shows that great directors and filmmakers in my opinion don't just come from the U.K and the U.S.A, they come from all different walks of life. 

Ridley Scott

I've spoken about this filmmaker a few times on here, I feel personally he is the King of Sc-Fi in my opinion anyway. As he did Alien a film thats just iconic, and brilliant, but also the beginning of modern Sc-Fi. He is amazing at storytelling, and devising in different genres such as Thelma and Louise, Robin Hood, and G.I Jane who are all so different from each other. He is a director that that people have preferences over like some people prefer his Sc-Fi work than his Fantasy or more Period Drama/Action, and I think its great that he can play with different genres and can be amazing at it. I love him in Actor's Roundtable on Youtube, as well. 

Kathryn Bigelow

Got to include this legendary lady in the mix, perhaps one of the most important Directors ever she is the first female director to win an Oscar, and for a War film The Hurt Locker. A film that's very serious and not fun in the slightest, but oh god its an amazing film. Not to say women can't direct serious War films, but as a woman who adores films its a stereotype that pops up quite alot, with women who love films, and women who make films just do Chick Flicks and Rom-Coms, which some women do like and thats fine each to there own, but its nice to see variety in filmmaking. Again I will do a post on Women in FIlm, but anyway Kathryn Bigelow is fantastic and not a one trick pony in making films of different genres and experimenting with stories.