Vita è bella, La (1997)

Director:

Roberto Benigni

Writers:

Vincenzo Cerami (story) &
Roberto Benigni (story)

Release Date:

23 October 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance | War

Tagline:

An unforgettable fable that proves love, family and imagination conquer all.

Plot:

A Jewish man has a wonderful romance with the help of his humour, but must use that same quality to protect his son in a Nazi death camp.

Plot Keywords:

Italian Fascism | Nazi Retaliation | Fascist | Jewish Family | Rise Of Fascism

Awards:

Won 3 Oscars. Another 52 wins & 27 nominations

Cast

Roberto Benigni	...	Guido Orefice
Nicoletta Braschi	...	Dora
Giorgio Cantarini	...	Giosué Orefice
Giustino Durano	...	Eliseo Orefice
Sergio Bini Bustric	...	Ferruccio Papini (as Sergio Bustric)
Marisa Paredes	...	Madre di Dora
Horst Buchholz	...	Doctor Lessing (as Horst Bucholz)
Lidia Alfonsi	...	Guicciardini
Giuliana Lojodice	...	School Principal
Amerigo Fontani	...	Rodolfo
Pietro De Silva	...	Bartolomeo
Francesco Guzzo	...	Vittorino
Raffaella Lebboroni	...	Elena
Claudio Alfonsi	...	Amico Rodolfo
Gil Baroni	...	Prefect
Massimo Bianchi	...	Man with Key
Jürgen Bohn	...	German Orderly at Party (as Jurgen Bohn)
Verena Buratti	...	German Auxilliary
Robert Camero	...	German Executioner
Ennio Consalvi	...	General Graziosi
Giancarlo Cosentino	...	Ernesto - Waiter
Aaron Craig	...	U.S. Tank Soldier
Alfiero Falomi	...	King
Daniela Fedke	...	German Auxilliary
Antonio Fommei	...	School Janitor
Stefano Frangipani	...	Card Player
Ernst Frowein Holger	...	German Sergeant
Alessandra Grassi	...	Teacher
Hannes Hellmann	...	German Corporal
Wolfgang Hillinger	...	German Major at Party
Margarita Lucia Krauss	...	Female Soldier at Children's Dinner
Patrizia Lazzarini	...	Woman #1 at Grand Hotel
Maria Letizia	...	Woman #2 at Grand Hotel
Concetta Lombardo	...	Gigliola
Maria Rita Macellari	...	Queen
Carlotta Mangione	...	Eleonora
Franco Mescolini	...	School Inspector
Francesca Messinese	...	Woman at the Opera
Inger Lise Middelthon	...	German Auxilliary
Andrea Nardi	...	Tappezziere
Günther Pfanzelter	...	German Soldier
Cristiana Porchiella	...	Old-Maid Teacher
Antonio Prester	...	Bruno (as Nino Prester)
Gina Rovere	...	Governante Dora
Laura Susanne Ruedeberg	...	German Auxilliary
Massimo Salvianti	...	Bookstore Polceman
Richard Sammel	...	German Lieutenant at Station
James Schindler	...	Tedesco - German Guard
Andrea Tidona	...	Grand Hotel Doorman
Dirk K. van den Berg	...	German Soldier (as Dirk Karsten van den Berg)
Giovanna Villa	...	City Hall Secretary

Directed by
Roberto Benigni

Writing credits
Vincenzo Cerami		(story and screenplay) &
Roberto Benigni		(story and screenplay)

Produced by
Gianluigi Braschi	....	producer
Mario Cotone	....	executive producer
John M. Davis	....	producer (English language version)
Elda Ferri	....	producer
Agnès Mentre	....	executive producer (english dubbed version) (as Agnes Mentre)
John Rogers	....	executive producer (english dubbed version) (as John S. Rogers Jr.)

Original Music by
Nicola Piovani

Cinematography by
Tonino Delli Colli		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Simona Paggi

Casting by
Shaila Rubin

Production Design by
Danilo Donati

Set Decoration by
Luigi Urbani

Costume Design by
Danilo Donati

Makeup Department
Giusy Bovino	....	key hair stylist
Martina Cossu	....	makeup artist
Walter Cossu	....	key makeup artist
Maria Pia Crapanzano	....	hair stylist
Enrico Jacoponi	....	key makeup artist (as Enrico Iacoponi)
Federico Laurenti	....	makeup artist
Fabio Lucchetti	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Tullio Lullo	....	production manager
John Rogers	....	post-production supervisor: New York (as John S. Rogers Jr.)
Pietro Sassaroli	....	production manager
Attilio Viti	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Gianni Arduini	....	assistant director
Daniele Cama	....	assistant director
Dan Edelstein	....	additional director: English dubbed version
Giovanni Marino	....	second assistant director (as Nanni Marino)
Luigi Spoletini	....	second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Emanuela Alteri	....	decorative painter
Rosario Calascibetta	....	props
Paolo Cameli	....	set painter
Alberto Ciolfi	....	decorative painter
Vito Consoli	....	set painter
Maurizio di Clemente	....	set designer (as Mauriziio Di Clemente)
Edoardo Di Lorio	....	second assistant production designer
Ivano Gatti	....	set painter
Roberto Magagnini	....	property master
Carlo Maggi	....	construction head
Carlo Maggi	....	head plasterer
Paola Mugnai	....	decorative painter
Sabina Palermo	....	props management: Intesa
Maurizio Sabatini	....	first assistant production designer
Romolo Severi	....	decorative painter
Marcello Turco	....	set painter
Fernando Valento	....	construction manager
Stephen Andrew Schwartz	....	props (uncredited)

Sound Department
Fernando Ascani	....	assistant engineer: English dubbed version
Benni Atria	....	sound editor
Michael Barry	....	re-recording mixer: English dubbed version
Louis Cerborino	....	sound editorial staff: New York (as Lou Cerborino)
Claudio Chiossi	....	sound mixer
Pam DeMetruis-Thomas	....	adr editor: English dubbed version (as Pam De Metruis)
Marco di Vittorio	....	adr engineer (as Marco Di Vittorio)
Alberto Doni	....	sound mixer
Gerald Donlan	....	adr editor: English dubbed version
Gerald Donlan	....	sound editorial staff: New York
Steve Earnhart	....	foley editor: English dubbed version (as Stephen Earnhart)
Dan Edelstein	....	sound editorial staff: New York
Tom Fleischman	....	re-recording mixer: English dubbed version
Jesse Hammer	....	recording engineer: English dubbed version
Bill Higley	....	recording engineer: English dubbed version
Bobby Johanson	....	recording engineer: English dubbed version
Richard King	....	sound effects editor: English dubbed version
Dan Korintus	....	adr editor: English dubbed version
Steve Kramer	....	dubbing adaptation: English dubbed version
Ettore Mancini	....	boom operator
James Marchione	....	assistant engineer: English dubbed version (as Jim Marchione)
Silvia Moraes	....	sound editor
Tullio Morganti	....	sound recordist
Branka Mrkic	....	adr editor: English dubbed version
Angela Organ	....	assistant editor: English dubbed version
Harry Peck Bolles	....	adr editor: English dubbed version (as Harry Bolles)
Jacob Ribicoff	....	adr editor: English dubbed version
Federico Savina	....	consultant: Dolby
Arthur Schlenger	....	assistant editor: English dubbed version
Steve Schwartz	....	assistant editor: English dubbed version
Steve Schwartz	....	sound editorial staff: New York (as Stephen Schwartz)
Damon Skinner	....	sound editorial staff: New York
Charlotte Stobbs	....	sound editorial staff: New York

Special Effects by
Giovanni Corridori	....	special effects (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Robert Bagala	....	grip (as Roberto Bagola)
Salvatore Bognanni	....	assistant camera
Roberto Brega	....	camera operator
Aldo Colanzi	....	key grip
Marco Contaldo	....	electrician
Francesco Cotone	....	assistant grip
Roberto Cuccoli	....	electrician
Marco Cuzzupoli	....	assistant camera
Umberto Dessena	....	grip
Claudio Frollano	....	electrician
Sergio Gabrielli	....	grip
Aldo Galigani	....	electrician
Maurizio Galli	....	assistant grip
Simone Lucchetti	....	electrician
Adolfo Onorati	....	generator operator
Marco Santarelli	....	grip
Fabrizio Spadoni	....	grip
Sergio Strizzi	....	still photographer
Giovanni Tancredi	....	electrician
Massimo Tanfani	....	assistant grip
Marco Verginelli	....	grip
Carlo Vinciguerra	....	gaffer

Casting Department
Mark Bennett	....	casting director: English dubbed version
Savannah Haske	....	casting associate (English dubbed version)
Christina Rosati	....	additional casting (English dubbed version)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Gaelle Allen	....	costumer
Angela Anzimani	....	seamstress
Giovanna Anzimani	....	seamstress
Alma Barbieri	....	workshop tailor
Metka Kosak	....	assistant costume designer (as Metka Koschak)
Simona Mattei	....	seamstress
Raoul Settimelli	....	assistant costume designer
Alessandra Torella	....	assistant costume designer
Emanuele Zito	....	assistant costume designer

Editorial Department
Benni Atria	....	assistant editor: avid
Maddalena Colombo	....	assistant editor: avid
Pasquale Cuzzupoli	....	color timer
Giorgia Onofri	....	assistant editor
Irma Misantoni	....	second assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Damiano Antinori	....	assistant music mixer
Pasquale Filastò	....	music assistant: Ars Nova
Nicola Piovani	....	conductor
Nicola Piovani	....	music arranger
Nicola Piovani	....	orchestrator
Fabio Venturi	....	music mixer
Fabio Venturi	....	music recordist (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Raffaele Bello	....	production driver
Valerio Berlini	....	production driver
Spartaco Calanchini	....	production driver
Stefano Ceppi	....	production driver
Abel Fasano	....	production driver
Claudio Pitotti	....	production driver
Massimo Rossi	....	production driver
Balilla Santoro	....	production driver
Giovanni Scuro	....	production driver
Giuseppe Serra	....	production driver
Sergio Verdecchia	....	production driver

Other crew
Marco Albertini	....	assistant production secretary
Ettore Balducci	....	stills laboratory
Roberto Benigni	....	presenter: English dubbed version
Ilaria Borrelli	....	director: Joshua (English dubbed version)
Michele Brown	....	assistant to executive producer (English dubbed version)
Cristiana Caimmi	....	unit publicist
Mario Cecchi Gori	....	presenter: English dubbed version
Vittorio Cecchi Gori	....	presenter: English dubbed version
Giuseppe Ceci	....	caterer
Giulio Cestari	....	business consultant: Melampo Cin.ca
Piera Cimino	....	workshop tailor
Valentina Cotone	....	assistant production secretary
Katia Crispino	....	stand-in: Mr. Braschi
Roberto Dell'Acqua	....	stand-in: Mr. Benigni
Elisa di Serio	....	workshop tailor (as Elisa Di Serio)
Franco Fantini	....	head administrator
Maria Vittoria Filipponi	....	cashier
Luigi Gatto	....	dyer
Marina Grappelli	....	administrator
Leda Lojodice	....	choreographer
Irene Macri	....	workshop tailor
Maurizio Maggi	....	bulbs and gels: International Set Lighting
Lilene Mansell	....	dialect coach: Jonathan Nichols, English dubbed version
Giovanna Montevecchi	....	workshop tailor
Ettore Musco	....	assistant production secretary
Nando Nibbi	....	production assistant
Attilio Pettirossi	....	caterer
Marcello Pezzetti	....	historical advisor: Center for Documentation of Contemporary Judaism, Milano
Mandella Quilici	....	production secretary
Emanuela Riganelli	....	production secretary
Nicoletta Rossana	....	dyer
Fabiano Rubeo	....	cashier
Giulia Saccucci	....	administrator
Olivia Sleiter	....	production assistant
Antonio Smiraglia	....	caterer
Enrico Sollazzo	....	production secretary
Luigi Spoletini	....	assistant: Mr. Benigni
Jeffrey Tahler	....	assistant to executive producer (English dubbed version)
Vittorio Torrieri	....	workshop tailor
Giorgio Vecchi	....	groupman
Daniele Cama	....	assistant: Mr. Benigni (uncredited)
Giovanni Marino	....	assistant: Mr. Benigni (uncredited)

Thanks
Stefano Bartezzaghi	....	special thanks
Rossella Belli	....	the producers wish to thank: La Soc. Fedora
Maurizio Benvenuti	....	the producers wish to thank: La Soc. Fedora
Sonia Berrettini	....	the producers wish to thank: La Soc. Fedora
Claudio Burlando	....	the producers wish to thank: Minister of Transportation
Franco Casaglieri	....	thanks
Demofilo Fidani	....	thanks: Auschwitz survivor (as Nedo Fidano)
Mariangela Gualtieri	....	special thanks
John Hadity	....	special thanks: English dubbed version
L. Picciotto Fargion	....	thanks: Auschwitz survivor (as Liliana Picciotto Fargion)
Marco Pisini	....	thanks
Valerio Veltroni	....	thanks
Schlomo Venezia	....	thanks: Auschwitz survivor

Production Companies

• Cecchi Gori Group Tiger Cinematografica (as Cecchi Gori Group)
• Melampo Cinematografica

Distributors

• Ascot Elite Entertainment Group (1998) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Asmik Ace Entertainment (Japan)
• BMG Video (Germany) (video)
• Bac Films (1998) (France) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (Sweden) (Sweden)
• Buena Vista International (1999) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Cecchi Gori Distribuzione (Italy)
• Filmes Castello Lopes (1999) (Portugal) (theatrical)
• Gativideo (Argentina) (video)
• Laurenfilm (1999) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Miramax Films (1998) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• New Films International
• Paris Vídeo (Brazil) (DVD)
• Paris Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• RCV Film Distribution (Belgium)
• RCV Film Distribution (Luxembourg)
• RCV Film Distribution (Netherlands)
• RCV Home Entertainment (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD) (limited edition steelbook)
• Scotia International Filmverleih (1998) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Universum Film (UFA) (2003) (Germany) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Ditta G. Corridori

Other Companies

• A.N.C.A.  animals
• A.T.A. S.r.l. Conti Bros.  period military vehicles and equipment (as A.T.A. S.r.l. - Roma)
• Accademia Musicale Italiana (AMIT)  orchestra
• Acqua Amerino  thanks from producers
• Agripan  thanks from producers
• Ars Nova  musical assistance
• Associazione A.D.A.Mus.  thanks from producers
• Avid Technology  audio/video systems (as Avid Technologies Inc.)
• Centro Fromazione Professionale di Narni  thanks from producers
• Centro Multimediale Terni  sound stages
• Cine Audio Effects  sound effects and foley design
• Comando Vigili Urbani - Arezzo  thanks from producers
• Comando della Regione Militare Tosco-Emiliana  thanks from producers
• Comune di Arezzo  thanks from producers
• Comune di Castiglion Fibocchi (Arezzo)  thanks from producers
• Comune di Castiglion Fiorentino (Arezzo)  thanks from producers
• Comune di Cortona (Arezzo)  thanks from producers
• Comune di Ferentillo  thanks from producers
• Comune di Montevarchi (Arezzo)  thanks from producers
• Comune di Ronciglione  thanks from producers
• Comune di Spoleto  thanks from producers
• Comune di Terni  thanks from producers
• Cose Care, Cesena  jewelry
• Costumi d'Arte  wardrobe
• De Pasquale Mariano  period military vehicles and equipment
• Ditta L.A.B.A.  jewelry
• Ditta Pompei  shoes
• EMI Music Publishing  organization and coordination
• ENEL - Compartimento di Terni  thanks from producers
• Fedora Company  thanks from producers
• Fila  set design
• Film Apprenticeship Program  thanks from producers
• Fono Roma  mixing studio
• Forum Music Village  music recorded at
• Garzotto Rocco e Figlio  set design
• German School New York  special thanks: English dubbed version
• Hopkins, Smith & Barden  voice casting: English dubbed version (as Hopkins Smith Barden Casting)
• Howard Schwartz Recording  recorded at: English dubbed version (as Howard Schwartz Recording)
• Industrie Riunite  set design
• International Set Lighting  bulbs and gels
• Intesa  props management
• La Scuola D'Italia "Guglielmo" Marconi  special thanks: English dubbed version
• Mercedes Italia  transportation
• Ministry of Transportation  thanks from producers
• Mobilvetta Design  transportation
• Molinari  set design
• Musical Band Lo Zivago  thanks from producers
• Musical Band of Bevagna  thanks from producers
• Panalight  cameras
• Panavision UK  anamorphic lenses (as Panavision)
• Paoloni (Fano)  carpentry equipment
• Pentastudio  titles and effects
• Peroni  set design
• Ponteggi Dalmine  construction tubing
• Province of Terni  thanks from producers
• Provincia di Arezzo  thanks from producers
• R.T.A. Frosinone  special shipping
• Regione Umbria  thanks from producers
• Romana Gruppi Elettrogeni  shipping
• Romana Trasporti  shipping
• Sapori  set design
• Scuola Elementare "Gamurrini" (Arezzo)  thanks from producers
• Società per Azioni delle Acque di S. Francesco  thanks from producers
• Sound One Corporation  re-recorded at: English dubbed version
• Sound One Corporation  recorded at: English dubbed version
• Soundtrack Recording  recorded at: English dubbed version
• Strega Alberti  set design
• Tecno Bay  construction gesso
• Ufficio Provinciale del Lavoro - Arezzo  thanks from producers
• Ufficio Provinciale del Lavoro di Terni  thanks from producers

Also Known As:

Life Is Beautiful (USA)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for holocaust-related thematic elements.

Runtime:

116 min | USA:118 min (English dubbed version)

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian | German | English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:L | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Ireland:PG | South Korea:All | Brazil:Livre | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Belgium:KT | Chile:TE | Finland:K-12 | France:U | Germany:6 (bw) | Hong Kong:IIA | Italy:T | Netherlands:AL | New Zealand:M | Norway:7 | Peru:14 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | Spain:T | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | UK:PG | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Arezzo, Tuscany, Italy

Company:

Cecchi Gori Group Tiger Cinematografica

Trivia:

Roberto Benigni's Oscar win for Best Actor was the second time a performance completely in Italian had been awarded. The previous winner was Sophia Loren for Ciociara, La (1960).

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Guido is talking to his son in the concentration camp, he mouths his son's lines as the boy speaks them.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Giosué Orefice: [narrating as an adult] This is a simple story... but not an easy one to tell.

Movie Connections:

References Singin' in the Rain (1952)

Soundtrack:

Marcia Reale

The best foreign language film I have ever seen.

I typically don't care much for sub-titled movies. Foreign films to me are slow and about nothing. So I naturally went to see Life is Beautiful with a chip on my shoulder. I wanted to hate it. I wanted it to be just another movie that Hollywood was praising to show that they were an intelligent bunch of people. Oh boy was I in for the surprise of my life. Not only is this film good, I honestly believe that it was the second best film of 98, next to Saving Private Ryan. The mere fact that Shakespeare in Love won best picture over not only Ryan but over this, is a joke. It's actually funny.

Benigni did everything in this film. He wrote, produced, directed and probably swept the floors at night. There is that much raw energy in this film. There really is. For someone to have that kind of vision is truly incredible. And not only is the film a terrific cinematic experience because of the importance and seriousness of the subject matter, but it is one of the funnier films I've ever seen. When Roberto is translating the German soldiers insructions to his son so that he isn't scared, it is at that moment that you realize you are under his spell. He's got you and no matter how much sceptisism you may have about the film you know you're witnessing a classic in every sense of the word.

I loved this film. Loved everything about it and I am so glad that I got to see it and cheer Benigni at the Oscars. He certainly deserved his best actor award and he should have gotten more.