La vita è bella ~ Life is Beautiful Roberto Benigni (1997)
1939 Arezzo, Italy. Guido, a Jewish book keeper starts a fairy tale life by courting and marrying a lovely woman from a nearby city. Guido and his wife have a son and live happily together until the occupation of Italy by German forces. In an attempt to hold his family together and help his son survive the horrors of a Jewish Concentration Camp, Guido imagines that the Holocaust is all a game.....
ASSIGNMENT: Reflect on the juxaposition this director uses to reveal his purpose. 300 words
DUE: Monday, 4/4
A black and white photo can be brought to life with color. In the film, “Life is Beautiful,” Guido the father of Joshua and husband of Dora tires to bring “life” or “color” to the darkness of their horrible situation. Once transferred into the concentration camp, Guido makes everything a game for Joshua in order for him not to know what is going on around them. He makes his son do certain things so that in the end, when the game has ended, they will win the tank. Guido knows that is his son were to know the true tragedy of what was happening around the camp, he would be in constant fear. But when Guido acts as if nothing is happening, and that everything is the same Joshua trusts his dad and does not fear anything. This is an juxtaposition because Guido is brings happiness into an evil situation. Guido also tires to bring happiness to his wife Dora when they are in the camp and are separated. He and Guido go on the speaker and send a message to Dora. Guido knows that his wife is struggling, and he wants to reassure her that they are okay. Guido is again trying to bring a little bit of hope to such a dejected place. Another way the director incorporates juxtaposition is when Guido runs into the doctor at the camp. The doctor and Guido had a previous relationship where they would tell riddles to each other at the restaurant that Guido worked at. As soon as the doctor realizes who Guido is, he tells Guido a riddle to figure out. This is an juxtaposition because while the doctor sees all of these horrifying things because of his job, he is still thinking about figuring out a riddle. In the film the director uses juxtapositions to get his point across.
ReplyDeleteIn the film "Life is Beautiful", Guido Orefice, a Jewish man residing in Italy, meets a woman named Dora, marries her and has a son named Joshua. The Jews then get deported to concentration camps including Guido and his son Joshua, however, his wife Dora was not Jewish, and so to stay with her husband she asked to be deported with them. When they arrive at the camp Guido and his son are separated from his wife. This is ironic because she went on the train so she could stay with them and was then separated from them upon arrival. When Guido and his son arrive at their camp, Guido is sent to work while Joshua stays with the other children in the camp. Guido tells Joshua that they are playing a game so Joshua would not be upset by the circumstances that they are in and tells him that if they win this game they will get a tank, which Joshua would really want. This portrays juxtaposition because they were in such a terrible place but Guido made it seem like it was fun and a game, while people were dying all around. The children were all sent to the showers to be killed however Joshua refused to take a shower and hid, so in doing so he was able to stay alive, without knowing he would be killed. Guido manages to get a job waiting tables from his calm, collected doctor friend that he knew from Italy, where they would constantly exchange riddles. The doctor comes to Guido later in the film and explains that he is going insane from not being able to solve a riddle, possibly because the mental toll of what he had seen had destroyed his mind. This juxtaposes the doctor because he was very calm and collected at the beginning of the movie, and borderline insane at the end. As the Allies approach the camp begins to fall into shambles and Guido tells him that they are looking for Joshua so he would not win the game. the director uses juxtaposition by turning the chaotic scene into a happy moment for Joshua by saying that he is close to winning a game. The Nazis evacuate the camp and then an American tank drives in making Joshua think that it is his. The American drives him away in the tank and Joshua reunites with his mother however juxtaposition is used here because while Joshua was now with his mother and thinks he has a tank and i very happy it is revealed that Guido is dead which is an upsetting factor for Joshua which he was not aware of. The director uses juxtaposition to constantly contrast happy and sad moments, and evil and childlike innocence.
ReplyDelete“Life is Beautiful” was a romantic story that took place during the horrible years of the Holocaust. A Jewish man named Guido kept finding himself seeing this beautiful non-Jewish girl named Dora and he thought she was the most prettiest girl ever and called her ‘Princess’. From the start of the movie there was foreshowing that something bad was going to happened to Guido and his family because when Guido goes to his Uncles house it was trashed. There was people running out and the reason that they went to his Uncles house because he was Jewish. Then later on in the movie there was more foreshowing when Guido and his Uncles horse was painted. It was painted a light green color and there was writing on it, and the writing was insulting things to Jewish people. Later on Guido and Dora got married and had a kid and when there kid was about five years old Guido and his son were walking and saw a sign onto a store that said “NO JEWS ALLOWED”. Guido told his son that they were going to make a sign and put on it people they don’t like are not allowed, and he did this so his son wouldn’t feel bad. This was just the starting of the Holocaust. Another example of foreshadowing was when Guido’s son does want to take a shower when his mom asks him and later in the movie all the kids that took a shower died and he didn’t want to so he decide to hide and lived. Guido’s family was forced to go to the concentration camp and Dora was separated from her family and was forced to go with the girls that were in the camp. Thought out there time in the camp Guido told his son that they were playing a game so he would get scared. This was juxtaposition because Guido knew that they probably were not going to survive in the camp yet he was telling his son that they were playing a game and making him laugh. There was irony when Guido got to the camp because the doctor in the camp was his friend from when he was a waiter. Also it was ironic because in the beginning of the story there were bright colors and the story line was happy. In the end they were in the camps it was grey and black colors and Jews were being killed. Also when Guido was about to die he still kept his son thinking that there was a game. As he was walking to his death he was doing a funny walk just for this son and this is also juxtaposition.
ReplyDeleteIn the film, “Life is Beautiful”, Guido, a Jewish man is living in Italy with his uncle and friend. The movie starts out to be so happy and colorful with Guido working at a beautiful hotel and meeting a beautiful school teacher named Dora. They met unexpectedly so many times throughout the beginning of the movie and fell in love even though she was engaged to be married to a man that her family was very fond of. There are many hints that the Aryan race is superior to all others, an example of this would be during the time that Guido goes to the school to pretend to be a school inspector just to see Dora, the principal is talking to the children about how their race is superior to all others. Also, a riddle was told to the German kids about how all cripples should be eliminated, hinting that they’re not good enough to be in society(as Hitler would see it). The movie quickly changes into a more sad vibe; After Guido and Dora are married and have a son, they are walking to their family owned book store and their young son Joshua points out the “NO JEWS OR DOGS ALLOWED” sign on a store nearby. This is another hint that the Holocaust will begin and the Jews will be put into concentration camps. All Jews are told to get on a train and are shipped to concentration camps in horrible conditions, juxtaposition is shown when Guido makes this a game for his son Joshua so he does not have to go through such a horrible experience and be in constant fear. It was ironic that in the beginning of the movie, Joshua does not want to take a bath and now in the concentration camp he also refuses. This is ironic because it actually saved his life, the children weren’t going to actually bathe they were going in gas chambers. Irony is also shown when Joshua loves tanks and at the end of the movie he is saved by a tank and taken to his mother. As Guido was walking to his death at the end of the movie, he is doing a funny walk to show his son not to be scared as he was hiding from the officers.
ReplyDeleteIn the film "Life is Beautiful", the main character, Guido, an Italian Jew lives in Italy, works for his uncle with his friend. In Italy he has fallen in love with a beautiful woman by the name of Dora. Dora and Guido get married and have a son, Joshua. Dora has chosen to be with Guido and has disobeyed her mother and left the man she was supposed to marry. Dora is not Jewish like Guido, and this becomes a huge problem later in the story. Guido and his son are taken from their home and are forced to get on a train to be deported to a concentration camp. Dora finds out that they are taken and asks to go with them to the concentration camp. This is ironic because she wants to be with them but when they arrive they are separated again. Upon arriving at the camp, Guido tells his son that they are playing a game. We see juxtaposition here between Guido’s made-up world of fun and games and the death and horrific events that are taking place all around the camp that they are in. Early on in the film we see Guido working for his uncle as a waiter and Guido says “What's the worst they can do? Paint me yellow and write on me, 'Jewish waiter?'" This is ironic because as the film progresses we see that painting Guido yellow and calling him a Jewish waiter is not the worst they can do to him. Another example of juxtaposition is when Guido meets the doctor that he had a previous relationship with. He thinks that he can save him and bring him some sort of hope at the camp. When Guido is asked to be a waiter and thinks the doctor can help him, all the doctor does is ask for Guido’s help in solving a riddle. There is a lot of false hope that is seen in this scene of the movie which contributes to the juxtaposition in the film.
ReplyDeleteLife is Beautiful is about a little boy, Joshua, his father, Guido, and his mother being sent to a concentration camp. Throughout the movie there were many examples of juxaposition. The movie is set in two parts. One being the happy and love part. During this part Guido met his “princess”. The second part of the movie was about the holocaust and concentration camp. Guido’s wife came back to the house to find it ransacked and a mess but while that was happening you would hear the birds chirping in the background. Another form of juxaposition is when Guido and Joshua were on the train they see his wife and she is wearing such vibrant colors while everyone is not. Once Guido and Joshua get to the camp they both go into the Block and Guido tries to make it seem like everything is alright to his son. They was he did this was he turned it into a game. Guido knew that they were in trouble but Joshua never thought of it in that way. Instead he thought he was just going to win a tank if he and his father received a thousand points. In the end it was sad that Joshua’s father risked his life to save Joshua. What was ironic was that Joshua was the only one left in the camp when the tanks rolled in and he got to ride in it as the camp was liberated. It was so sweet and uplifting when Joshua finds his mother and they were reunited. Throughout the whole movie the director used juxaposition to contrast the happy thoughts with what was upsetting and horrifying.
ReplyDeleteLife is beautiful is a film made in the early 1900’s about an Italian man named Guido and his family’s journey through the Holocaust. Guido was a Jewish bookkeeper who fell in love with his “princess”, and eventually had a child named Joshua. Life after that had not been how they originally planned or hoped for. Guido and Joshua were forced into the concentration camps of the Holocaust because they believed in the Jewish faith. Guido’s wife however was not Jewish, so therefore she was not forced in, but decided to go anyways to be with her family. When they got the camps, the men and women were separated. This is ironic because Guido’s wife came to the camps to be with them, and in the end she could not. There are also many examples of juxtaposition throughout the film. One example of Juxtaposition is when Guido told his son that the holocaust is like a game. His son had no idea what was going on, he had thought they were trying to win a tank for his birthday. They both were having lots of fun, but little did Joshua know that he was in the Holocaust. Another example of juxtaposition in the film was towards the end when Guido had been caught by the officers. He had been joking around and walking in a weird way because he knew Joshua was watching him. Guido was in a very serious situation but he reacted in the opposite way.
ReplyDeleteIn the film "Life is Beautiful", the beginning part of the film is spent building the story-line and getting to know the characters. As you get to know Guido and his son and wife, it is apparent how much love they have in their family. That's why it is so devastating when they are sent to a concentration camp. Even through this dark time, Guido continues to keep his son happy and innocent. The juxtaposition in this film is clear because Guido turns the concentration camp into a game for his son. The evil things occurring around them were spun around to make Joshua believe that it was all in good fun. The “game” Guido created for his son contrasted the horrific occurrences surrounding them, and the happiness that his son still had because of his father. When Guido was walking to his death, he saw that his son was watching so he made a joke out of it and did a silly walk to make his son laugh, even though he was knowingly walking to his death. This is juxtaposition because in the darkest and probably most fearful moment of his life, he still managed to lighten it up for his son to protect him. It seemed that the more serious the situation, the more light-hearted and fun Guido made it seem. When he hadn’t seen his wife for a long time after they had been separated, Guido greeted her on the loudspeaker the same way he had always greeted her to show her that he and his son were alive and well. Also at the end of the film when Guido was killed, it was juxtaposition when the tank came to save Joshua and he got his wish, making it seem like Guido was telling the truth the whole time about the game. Even though it was heartbreaking that Guido was killed sacrificing himself for his family, the end was still happy because Joshua got what he had wanted and he was reunited with his mother.
ReplyDeleteIn the film "Life is Beautiful", Guido Orefice, a Jewish man residing in Italy, meets a woman named Dora, marries her and has a son named Joshua. The Jews then get deported to concentration camps including Guido and his son Joshua, however, his wife Dora was not Jewish, and so to stay with her husband she asked to be deported with them. When they arrive at the camp Guido and his son are separated from his wife. This is ironic because she went on the train so she could stay with them and was then separated from them upon arrival. When Guido and his son arrive at their camp, Guido is sent to work while Joshua stays with the other children in the camp. Guido tells Joshua that they are playing a game so Joshua would not be upset by the circumstances that they are in and tells him that if they win this game they will get a tank, which Joshua would really want. This portrays juxtaposition because they were in such a terrible place but Guido made it seem like it was fun and a game, while people were dying all around. The children were all sent to the showers to be killed however Joshua refused to take a shower and hid, so in doing so he was able to stay alive, without knowing he would be killed. Guido manages to get a job waiting tables from his calm, collected doctor friend that he knew from Italy, where they would constantly exchange riddles. The doctor comes to Guido later in the film and explains that he is going insane from not being able to solve a riddle, possibly because the mental toll of what he had seen had destroyed his mind. This juxtaposes the doctor because he was very calm and collected at the beginning of the movie, and borderline insane at the end. As the Allies approach the camp begins to fall into shambles and Guido tells him that they are looking for Joshua so he would not win the game. the director uses juxtaposition by turning the chaotic scene into a happy moment for Joshua by saying that he is close to winning a game. The Nazis evacuate the camp and then an American tank drives in making Joshua think that it is his. The American drives him away in the tank and Joshua reunites with his mother however juxtaposition is used here because while Joshua was now with his mother and thinks he has a tank and i very happy it is revealed that Guido is dead which is an upsetting factor for Joshua which he was not aware of. The director uses juxtaposition to constantly contrast happy and sad moments, and evil and childlike innocence.
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"life is beautiful" was a very wimsical and touching movie that is different than all other halocoust movies. Guido Orefice, a Jewish man residing in Italy, meets a woman named Dora, marries her and has a son named Joshua. The mother has such love for Guido and Joshua that she risks her life to be with them which is very compeling. Throughout the movie the directer has many literary elements such as forshadowing and juxtaposition. There are a few examples of juxtaposition. For example at the beggining of the movie when Guido's grandfather's horse is painted and says somehting racist against jews. This part shows a serious threat againt jews but Guido makes a joke abvout it and rides it into the resteraunt to pick up dora to make the scene more uplifting and happy. Another example is when Guido is taken to the concentration camp with Joshua and are forced into a room with other prisoners. Guido tells Joshua that they are just playing a game but really thier lives are in danger. One of the Nazi's walks into the room to give instructions and Guido volenteers to translate and doesnt speak German so he just explains the fake rules of the game so Joshua would belive him. This is a comical part of the movie, but is meant to be serious if Guido didnt do that. Lastly at the end of the Movie Guido dies which is heart breaking. It is a very serious scene but right before he is shot he looks at his son and makes a silly face and prentend to walk like the solder to make his son feel happy. These examples show the jaxtaposition between comedy and seriousness within the film.
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ReplyDelete"Life is Beautiful" was the best Holocaust film I've ever seen. I agree with Brendan in that this movie is very different than any other Holocaust film there is. This movie is much more upbeat and charming than you would expect a movie on such a horrible subject to be. The main character in the film is a man named Guido. He is an Italian Jew which at the time was very unfortunate being that Nazi forces were gathering up Jews and putting them in ghettos and concentration camps. The movie starts off all happy and everything is going perfectly. Guido moves in with his rich uncle who owns a magnificent hotel and his uncle grants him with a job at the hotel. He then falls in love with a lady that he unexpectedly meets repeatedly and they get married and have a son. Then everything started going downhill for Guido and his family. Dora, Guido's wife, comes home one day to find out that her husband and son have been sent to a concentration camp. She makes a decision to join them at the camp. This is where the juxtaposition comes into play. At the camp Guido leads his son Joshua to believe that it is all a game and that everyone is the camp is competing to get 1000 points. Joshua is crazy for tanks. He loves them. Guido tells Joshua that the winner wins a real tank. This is a great display of juxtaposition because the comical 'game' contrasts with the fact that they're in a concentration camp and they're lives are in great danger. This can also be viewed upon as irony because Joshua is having such a great time thinking that its all a fun game when really hes in a concentration camp.
ReplyDeletethe movie "life is beautiful" was a movie about the holocaust, but portrayed in a different manner. many of the holocaust movies i have seen were depressing, terrible, and horrific. in the movie there was a man name guido who was sent to a concentration camp with his young son and the whole time he was there he never let his son see him down or upset, everytime something bad happen guido would "lie" to his son and say it was all part of a game so his Joshua his son would never be afraid of what was going on around him. guido was in a very serious situation but he reacted in the opposite way.
ReplyDeleteJoshua, and their life in a concentration camp. This film used juxtaposition by Guido telling Joshua the camp was just a game and you win points, this brought a lighter feel to the movie. A part of the movie that I thought had a lot of juxtaposition was when Guido was taking his last steps toward death he was walking in a silly manner just to make his son smile before he was put to death. There was also a lot of foreshadowing in the movie like when Dora was at the party her fiancé and I think it was her mother or friend were talking about exterminating the Jews. Also at the opera, the song that was being sung was the same song that Guido played for his wife at the camp.
ReplyDeleteLife is Beautiful is an almost whimsical take on one of the most horrifying events in history. The movie setting starts off right before the beginning of the holocaust, as the viewer is introduced to Guido; an Italian Jew who has traveled to live with his uncle. Upon his arival to his uncles house; Guido witnesses his house being attacked and robbed. His uncle is completely aware of the fact that this act of evil would just the beginning of what would be complete horrification and torment. On a much less serious note the film continues unraveling Guido's charming and comedic personality as he meets Dora; the love of his life and the woman he later marries and has a son (Joshua) with. Some years later it is now joshuas birthday and we are taken into the living room of Guido's house as we hear Dora and Guido telling their son to take a shower and put on new clothes, as he refuses to do so it is taken as an ironic action because later on at the camps not wanting to take a shower would be the factor that saves joshuas life. Life is Beautiful is greatly unique in the fact that it appears to be almost two completely different movies. It becomes very clear to see that once at the concentration camps the tone and vibrance of the movie was extremely brought down, everything appeared grey black and lifeless. Once at the actual camp Guido wanted to ensure the comfort of his son by making sure he was not scared, he pretended that all of it was a big game and that Joshua needed to listen to all the rules to win the big prize at the end of it all. Which really was his was of making sure he didn't get into any trouble and or hurt. I find this extremely ironic because games are fun and the Holocaust was anything but that. Those were just some of the few cases of irony in the wonderful film Life is Beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThe film “Life is beautiful” tells the story of Guido, a nice respectful man living during the time of the holocaust. Things are going great for Guido in Italy. He meets a beautiful young girl named Dora. Dora and Guido get married and go on to have a little kid named Joshua. Guido, Dora, and Joshua are the most loving family possible. Things are going great for Guido and his family but the soon go immoral. Having Jewish blood Guido and Joshua get deported to a concentration camp. In Hitler’s attempt to have all Jews exterminated at the concentration camps the Jews work till they can’t anymore and then they are killed. Dora sees her husband and son being deported and sent away on a train and she decides to get on the train as well. Once at the Camp the Women and Men are divided. Guido doesn’t want his son Joshua to be afraid so he tells Joshua that everything they are doing is just a game. For all of Guido’s hard work every day and Joshua’s hiding from the officers they gain points Guido tells Joshua. Whoever gains the most points gets a tank Joshua loves tanks and really wants one. Joshua trusts Guido and believes everything he says. Joshua and Guido survive hard times in the camp then one day when the camp is on the brink of being liberated the German soldiers try to execute all of the Jew’s before the Americans come in and liberate it. Guido finds a good hiding place for Joshua and tells him not to come out no matter what until nobody is around him. Guido then goes to find his wife Dora. In attempt to find his wife Guido is seen by a German soldier. The soldier takes Guido into an ally where Guido is going to be killed. On the way over to the ally Joshua sees Guido. Guido sees Joshua as well and doesn’t want him to be afraid so he walks funny to calm his son. Guido is on his way to his death and his son being secure is more important to him. Guido is tragically killed but is evidently a hero in the eyes of his son Joshua. The juxtaposition here is Joshua and Guido were on the brink of execution and the whole time the most important thing to Guido was that his son was safe. Guido pretended they were in a game when they were truly on the edge of death.
ReplyDeleteIn the film "Life is Beautiful" it is about a man named Guido, he is Jewish. He meets this woman named Doris. guido calls her "princess" in Italian. They run into each other all the time. Doris is suppose to get married to another man but she leave him for Guido, Guido gallops into her wedding dinner on a horse that happens to say "NO JEWS ALLOWED",but Doris is Catholic, Doris hops on the horse, they both run away, fall in love and get married. They have a child named Joshua.Eventually Guido and Josha get sent to a concentration camp on Joshuas birthday. Doris shows up at the train station demanding to go on the train with her family. When they all arrive at the concentration camp the women are split from the men. A German officer comes in and asks if any one speaks German to explain the rules. Guido didn't want his son to know what was really happening so he told his son this place was a game. As the German soilder was explaining the rules, Guido was explaining the rules so his son would believe him. Some of the rules were not to speak, not complain for food, don't ask for your mommy and the big prize at the end would be a big Tank. When Guido was working Joshua came in saying he didn't want to take a shower, this is where juxtaposition takes place because he was actually being sent to his death. Not wanting to take a shower saved him in the end. Unfortantely Guido dies and everyone leaves the concentration camp. Joshua comes out from hiding and hes standing there and a giant tank comes and he is saved.
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