This film was magnificent! It beautifully surrendered how a brutally harsh war stricken situation can be made a beautifully naïve game in the eyes of a young boy with the help of is his witty father’s craftiness. Released in 1997, director Roberto Benigni could not have done a better job hitting the triple whammy of Writer, Director & Best Actor for a leading role in the 1999 Academy Awards for his lead role as Guido Orefice.
‘Set in late 1930s Arezzo, Italy, Jewish man and poet, Guido Orefice (Roberto Benigni) uses cunning wit to win over an Italian schoolteacher, Dora (Nicoletta Braschi) who's set to marry another man. Charming her with "Buongiorno Principessa", getting the timing perfect every time and whisking her away on a green horse (don't ask!) ensures they soon live together happily in Guido's uncle, Eliseo Orefice's (Giustino Durano) house. Bringing up their 5 year old boy, Giosué (Giorgio Cantarini), the war (WWII) continues without them noticing until one fateful day when the Germans arrest Guido and his son at the uncle's house during preparation for Giosué's birthday party, and transfer them to a Nazi concentration camp. Dora demands to be taken too, thus Guido is devastated to see his non-Jewish wife board the train. Protecting his son from the vile truth, Guido tells Giosué that they are just on a big hoilday, and he turns the camp into a big game for Giosué, claiming that they must win 1000 points to win a real tank and leave.’ – Just a quick run down from IMDB. - Griorgio played the naive child so truthfully that you would not help but enjoy the games they played, even though you knew they were playing to save thier lives. If it wernt for Giosué's distaste for showers, the story itself may have ended quickly - but I wont give too much away, you'll have to watch it to find out what I mean :P
The film makes that much more of an impact as it is originally filmed in Italian with English subtitles, hence its second Academy Award win for Best Foreign Film. Although for those of you who cannot be bothered reading the whole time, it does come with a English audio option. Its musical score was also a stunning component to a remarkably well written adventure - the music hightened your emotions as you went along with the journey completely divulging you the stories vulnerability. - No wonder the film won its third Academy Award for Best musical Score.
All in all… A BRILLIANT film… I absolutely loved it!! Would definitely recommend it to anyone who loves an unpredictably well written story – 9.5 out of 10 from me.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
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