La Vita è Bella

We had a film showing today and I was really enthusiastic to share about the movie that moved our hearts out and triggered the tears to fall down (including the males)

The movie was entitled "Life is Beautiful" or "La Vita è Bella" in Italian.

"Beautiful" in the movie is ironically shown for instead of a peaceful and joyful life lived by the main character (played by Robert Benigni), it turned out to be the opposite. It is beautiful in a sense that life is exemplified as an interchanging condition wherein a certain person won't live his life merrily all throughout or miserably in his lifetime. The way the person will live his life beautifully, depends on his own hands.

The main character, Guido Orefice, is one heck of a hero. One of my favorite part in the movie is when he was still courting Dora (Nicoletta Braschi) with his notable greeting of "Buon giorno Principessa!"(Good day, Princess!) that serves as a enchanting phrase to his leading lady (as well as to us, viewers). I was impressed for he is always able to find a way to change the track of events with his slapstick humor, audacious improvisation, and outrageous sight gags. Imagine him as a low class man in that time courting an engaged elite woman and more astonishing when he made her his wife.

The big turn of events in their life as a family is when Guido and their son with their uncle was deported to a concentration camp. I honor Dora for ignoring her pride as an Italian by riding the train to the camp disregarding the sufferings she have to endure for her family. I also honor Guido for patiently fulfilling the innocence of his child and showing his never ending fraternal love. He always tell to his child that the camp is just a game to set aside his son's fears.

Guido has done the best of everything he had to fulfill his duty as father even sacrificing his own life. I could not imagine any other person who can do such a deed. I asked myself, "What would I do if I were in his place?" I'll be the total opposite as a matter of fact. I could not tell any silly jokes to my own son when I know a great peril is fast approaching. I could not race my hand to volunteer in translating the rules, facing the ruthless officers just to relieve the fear of my son. I might have just got a rifle from the soldiers and killed myself in that situation. He was really praiseworthy and incomparable. I really cried my heart out when he was killed. In a split second, he's dead. I could not even believe it.

The character of Guido should serve as an inspiration not just only to fathers but to all. To be able to suppress the misery to yourself and be able to turn it as a ray of hope for the others who need it is a very notable deed. It is selflessness. Undoubtedly praiseworthy.

In the first part of the movie, life is compared to a fable, full of sorrow but still a joyride of happiness and beauty. Life is a fable of love and sacrifice where each one of us is the main character of our own story. Life will never be fair nor unfair. It is inevitable but being able to transform it into a beautiful landscape is the primary challenge of our reality.

Nevertheless, the movie was not about the reality of either courtship or death camps. It is a metaphor about the lengths to which a man will go for those he loves, a contemplation on the beauty of life even when tragically restricted or cut short.

- To disclose, I would like to share my favorite riddle in the movie. Pardon me if I haven't quoted it correctly but the thought is more or less the same.

"When you know and call my name, I'm not there anymore. Who am I?" and the answer?

SILENCE

We should all consider ourselves as the son of Guido who is proudly teaching us the lesson of love, sacrifice and selflessness. This movie deserves more than a round of applause or standing ovation. It is rightful of deep appreciation and a treasured place in one's heart where its worth will never wither nor die.