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Life Is Beautiful

Life Is Beautiful

8,4 /10 (13,968 Votes)
1997 IT 116 min

Overview

A touching story of an Italian book seller of Jewish ancestry who lives in his own little fairy tale. His creative and happy life would come to an abrupt halt when his entire family is deported to a concentration camp during World War II. While locked up he tries to convince his son that the whole thing is just a game.

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Release date

20/12/1997

Votes

13,968

Popularity

14.6

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

Genres

Status

Released

Original title

La vita è bella

Language

IT

Runtime

116 min

Budget

$20,000,000

Revenue

$230,098,753

Roberto Benigni

Roberto Benigni

Guido

Nicoletta Braschi

Nicoletta Braschi

Dora

Giorgio Cantarini

Giorgio Cantarini

Giosué

Giustino Durano

Giustino Durano

Zio

Sergio Bini Bustric

Sergio Bini Bustric

Ferruccio

Marisa Paredes

Marisa Paredes

Dora's Mother

Horst Buchholz

Horst Buchholz

Doctor Lessing

Lidia Alfonsi

Lidia Alfonsi

Mrs. Guicciardini

Giuliana Lojodice

Giuliana Lojodice

School Principal

Amerigo Fontani

Amerigo Fontani

Rodolfo

Pietro De Silva

Pietro De Silva

Bartolomeo

Francesco Guzzo

Francesco Guzzo

Vittorino

Raffaella Lebboroni

Raffaella Lebboroni

Elena

Claudio Alfonsi

Claudio Alfonsi

Rodolfo's Friend

No photo

Gil Baroni

Prefect

Massimo Bianchi

Massimo Bianchi

Man with Key

No photo

Jürgen Bohn

German Party Attendant

Verena Buratti

Verena Buratti

German Auxilliary

No photo

Robert Camero

German Executioner

No photo

Ennio Consalvi

General Graziosi

Giancarlo Cosentino

Giancarlo Cosentino

Waiter Ernesto

Aaron Craig

Aaron Craig

US Tank Driver

No photo

Alfiero Falomi

King

No photo

Daniela Fedke

German Auxiliary

No photo

Antonio Fommei

School Janitor

No photo

Stefano Frangipani

Card Player

No photo

Ernst Frowein Holger

German Sergeant

No photo

Alessandra Grassi

Teacher

Hannes Hellmann

Hannes Hellmann

German Corporal

Wolfgang Hillinger

Wolfgang Hillinger

German Major at Party

No photo

Margarita Lucia Krauss

Female Soldier at Children's Dinner

No photo

Patrizia Lazzarini

1st Lady at the Grand Hotel

No photo

Maria Letizia

2nd Lady at the Grand Hotel

No photo

Concetta Lombardo

Gigliola

No photo

Maria Rita Macellari

Regina

No photo

Carlotta Mangione

Eleonora

Franco Mescolini

Franco Mescolini

Public Education Inspector

No photo

Francesca Messinese

Lady at the Opera

No photo

Inger Lise Middelthon

German Auxiliary

No photo

Andrea Nardi

Upholsterer

No photo

Günther Pfanzelter

German Soldier

No photo

Cristiana Porchiella

Spinster Teacher

Antonio Prester

Antonio Prester

Bruno

Gina Rovere

Gina Rovere

Dora's Maid

No photo

Laura Susanne Ruedeberg

German Auxilliary

Massimo Salvianti

Massimo Salvianti

Policeman in Stationery Shop

Richard Sammel

Richard Sammel

German Lieutenant at Station

No photo

James Schindler

Solid German

Andrea Tidona

Andrea Tidona

Grand Hotel Doorman

No photo

Dirk van den Berg

German Soldier

No photo

Giovanna Villa

Common Secretary

Omero Antonutti

Omero Antonutti

Narrator (voice) (uncredited)

Adelaide Alaïs

Adelaide Alaïs

German Auxilliary (uncredited)

Original Soundtrack

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T

tubbs

2020-06-09

⭐ 6

The first half of the screenplay is better than the second and in particular the weak ending which is very commercial Oscar material. However, there is Benigni, who is an old school visual comedian, and some of his antics are a delight. The period setting details are also well done.

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r96sk

r96sk

2025-08-17

⭐ 9

<em>'Life Is Beautiful'</em> is certainly beautiful (in a sense), but is acutely haunting too. You can see where the film is heading from pretty much the get-go, though that only strengthens the grip that the film had on my mind. Evidently, it's an outstanding piece of filmmaking. I've, of course, seen plenty of flicks that feature this particular historical event, but I gotta say this one had a larger effect on me than is the norm. They are all saddening, obviously, but this one with the young family aspect hit a bit more, it felt more intimate. That's all despite the movie being infused w…

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