07. LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL (LA VITA E BELLA, 1997)
Life is Beautiful has gotten a bad name for itself after actor/director
Roberto Benigni walked away with the Best Actor Academy Award back in 1999 over his peers but whatever your feelings may be on whether this was deserved, or indeed a gross injustice to other nominees, the fact remains that the film is a very touching and emotionally charged one. Depicting the ability one man has to remain strong for his child - even when facing the most extreme horrors - Life is Beautiful paints a strong picture of resilience in the face of oppression. Benigni injects the film with a deep energy that reflects in both his performance and the narrative. Placing everyday life in direct opposition to the tragedy of Nazi death camps, Benigni creates a poignant and affecting film. Far more light-hearted than much of the cinema depicting the holocaust, Life is Beautiful is one of the most accessible films on the subject.