5. Life Is Beautiful (1998) - Dir. Robert Benigni
This is a film that if you know nothing about will completely shock you when it comes to the second act, if you haven't seen this film, I urge you to seek it out before continuing. Back? Good. The film is the innocent enough tale of the completely hapless and charming Guido who does his best to win the heart of local school teacher, Dora, in 30's Italy. The first hour or so depicts their romance and so enamored are you by this fairly sweet tale that you completely miss all the background symbolism that shows the rise of Nazism. The fact that Guido is Jewish is something that is learned early on and forgotten about as it's only mentioned in passing. However, when World War II breaks out he and his son are taken to a concentration camp. It's then the film throws a curve ball as rather than descend into straight out misery at the dire situation Guido and his son find himself in, the film keeps it's heart despite the horrendous surroundings. Guido convinces his son that the concentration camp is simply a game that everyone is playing and everything that they do wins them points, the prize being a brand new tank. Guido creates an answer for everything, the guards are horrible because they want to win as well, there are no other children because you get the most points from hiding. Guido struggles to ensure his son does not grow up without hate in his heart and is determined that his son will not be corrupted by his surroundings. Guido eventually has to sacrifice himself for his son. During the American liberation of the camp, he fails to find his wife and is caught by a Nazi guard. As he is being marched off, he goose steps and pulls faces to shows his son that it's all still a part of the game. It's then that we hear the single shot ring out. We wait for Guido to march out and rescue his son. We wait, but he never comes out. The guard returns alone and the certainty that we had that this family would be reunited is taken from us. You feel empty when the credits role as despite everything Guido wanted for his son coming to pass, it's heartbreaking to know that he will never be there to see it.