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.
Sentimentality is a kind of fascism too, robbing us of judgment and moral acuity, and it needs to be resisted. Life Is Beautiful is a good place to start.
– Richard Schickel,
TIME Magazine,
1 Jan 2000
fresh:
It's a high-wire act without a net, and Benigni pulls it off with astounding grace and sensitivity.
– Sean Means,
Film.com,
1 Jan 2000
rotten:
Benigni certainly knew the risk he was taking with his idea, but the circumstances overwhelm him.
– Stanley Kauffmann,
The New Republic,
1 Jan 2000
fresh:
Its sentiment is inescapable, but genuine poignancy and pathos are also present, and an overarching sincerity is visible too.
– Kenneth Turan,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Feb 2001
fresh:
Yes, there are heaps of charm and poignancy in this trifle, but it's a trifle nonetheless -- light-and-bright, for sure, but also slight-and-trite.