International Film Critique

Use the following format for your international film critique; answers must be typed below the questions and
all questions must appear in full on your final copy. You can use this document as your template. Pay careful
attention to the required number of words for those questions that have them. Failure to follow the
instructions here and on your syllabus will result in a substantially low grade. Minimal answers poorly written
are a D grade or less. Elaboration of points, excellent arguments, and good writing garner higher grades.

Name Elias Veroni_____________Class HUMA1100 Monday&Wednesday 1-2:20pm

1)
2)
3)
4)
5)

Title of Film: La vita bella (Life is Beautiful)

Year of release: 1997
Language of original film: Italian
Director: Roberto Benigni
Actors: Roberto Benigni, Nicoletta Braschi, Giorgio Cantarini, Giustino Durano, Sergio Bini Bustric.

6) Give a brief plot summary {150-250 words. DO NOT plagiarize from the web!]:
The movie takes place in midst of World War 2, Nazis have been creating death camps to
exterminate Jews, This family that is focused on is first seen in a Jewish ghetto, They are having all
their belongings stripped from then and destroyed by Nazis solders. Then not so soon after they are
all crammed on a train and shipped off somewhere more inland to Nazi Germany, A death camp.
When they get there they are stripped off the clothes they have and separated between men and
women. At this point the father in the family is stripped of his wife and mother and is left with his son
and father. They get crammed into a bunk with other Jewish people. At this point not to scare his son,
he creates a game so his son doesnt know what really is going on. He tells the son that the tasks
they are having them do is to win a grand prize at the end. So the kid plays the game while the father
knows the truth behind why they are there. The movie shows the hard labor they had to endure during
the time in the death camp. They show the grandfather being taken away and put in a gas chamber
because he is week and never seen again and the ladys being killed and having bodys being burned
constantly at the crematorium. The movie also goes on to show how certain German people were ok
with what was going on. At the end the Yankees are closing in so they start marching the Jews more
Inland, So before that, the father makes up the last part of the game which was too hid. The kid goes
and hides and while thats going on the father gets killed by a Nazi SS. The kid comes out and the
American solders rescue him.
7) Analyze the social and philosophical issues the film addresses. Make sure you include the point
of view of the movie, the context of the movie, what audience the movie is targeting, and why. (i.e.
you should address and reflect upon the argument or meaning of the work. This should be
analysis, not just summary of issues in the movie). {at least 500 words}
The film addresses the fact that Nazi Germany was in control and it also addresses the racial
side seen of Nazi soldiers but Im not saying all of Nazis believed it was correct. It portrays the
difficulty that Jews had during this period in the world. What it also show is the way the fatherly
figure tries to protect is son no matter what happens, Starves for him, Fights for him, etc. I consider
this fill to show more of a social issue movie with all that occurs from the first part of the Nazis
destroying all there belonging to the way they treated them for being of a certain Race. The
Philosophical part of the movie, Id consider it to be the relationship between the son and the father.
The father fights for his son and tries so hard not to let the son know what is going on. That fatherly
pursuit to protect the son stands out a lot as well as the point that father makes that hes making
the worst thing that could ever happen to the family a good thing and even though is definitely not
enjoying it, he has to show his son that its not the worst and that there is still great and fun things
to live for. The last philosophical aspect I was able to capture from the film was that family matters

no matter what situation you are found in. Family will always prevail. The movie with both types of
messages is intended for all viewers but its really meant to hit the viewers that are going through
rough times with their families and showing that no matter what kind of atrocitys happened to the
father and son, He prevailed and did not give up for his family. As well as not so related view is
pointing out to the people who watched was the reality Jews were faced with in Nazi concentration
camps, the director must have wanted the viewer to get a historical point of view of what accurately
occurred during that time period and how concentration camps were the worst place to live as a
Jew, he wanted to get his point across and tried to engrave a horrible image of death camps. The
director must have been thinking about what way to best portray family unity and the best way
was putting them in the most horrific scenario. As well as the director wanted to show how racism
lead to, what happened in the time period. The thought of one race under all, Jeopardized a
generation. The overall point of view of the movie, In my point of view was to express the feelings
of the film maker, his view of how the Jewish people were segregated, Grouped and treated terribly
because they were a different type of people in German peoples view and that at the midst of all
this mistreatment and racial issues that came up there was still a bond between a father and a
son. Even till the end the father gave his life for his son.
8) What is your response to the message of the film? Why do you respond this way? Show that you
are thinking about your own thinking here and the biases/assumptions about the world you bring
to your viewing. Did the film change the way you view the subject? Why, or why not? {at least 250
words}
My reaction to the film was very strong. I was strongly in favor with the fathers point of view,
keep his son going no matter what happened to him. I also respond with disgust to the Nazi race
for doing what they did. There are multiple subconscious responses to the film but for the most
part I am in favor with the message and what it portrays. The reasons I respond with such a one
way view is because the film does a good job to show how the Nazis were racist against Jews and
because of their differences they had to be killed I dont believe that because you believe in a
certain thing or look different you should be stepped over, or even worse killed for being human.
To respond to why I agree with the fathers persistence in trying to make it enjoyable for his son
is that it comes from not just the film but personal thoughts and experience. I would fight for my
family no matter what happens, Moving to America was a big step for my family and it broke a lot
of things but at the end the only thing that mattered was that family prevailed and that we didnt
fall apart no matter what racist or economical problem came upon us. Going into the film I didnt
expect such dedication to keep family together or such a great example of what really occurred in
the concentration camps that were going around during World War 2, The Film just reassured
what I already knew about Nazi German racial views but it really opened my eyes to how you have
to stick together no matter what hardship comes of it.
9) What cultural differences did you notice in the film (philosophical outlook, humor, architecture,
customs, clothes, cities, weather, food, music, dancing, lifestyles, etc.)? What did you learn
about history, economics or politics? (There are always differences; look for them). {at least 250
words}
What I think they did a lot more than most American films was the fact that they focused on
more down in depth emotions. Every scene was filled with emotion even if it just was the kid
playing. Also the film is good in elaborating the time period it was in. The solders outfits were
extremely alike to German Nazi solder uniform, not only that, but when the family arrives to the
concentration camp the uniforms they gave them to distinguish them from Jews was impactful.
Black and white striped jumpsuits and they were also assigned a star to them and a number to
distinguish if they were Jews and keep track of them. Another thing that shows a difference is
the vehicles that are seen during the movie. It shows you how much we have advanced today
and what they considered luxury back then. This movie is really good at showing historical

aspects of concentration camps. If someone has only read about these camps this movie is
really good at taking you back in time and showing the viewer scene for scene what life at a
concentration camp was like as well as it shows what kind of political views were going on in
Nazi territory. The political powers ruled and what they said was law. Its the only reason why
such atrocitys happened during Hitlers control also the film does a good job of showing how it
didnt only happen in Germany. The people were Italian and sentenced to a death camp not
because of where they came from, but were the political command was controlling.
10) What techniques did the filmmaker use that were different from what you see in the films you
normally watch? Think about lighting, dialogue, atmosphere, setting, music, and how the
filmmaker might play upon your own biases, etc.{150 words}
It was a well done film and the actor did a good job by far with the way that there wasnt any
pointless scene as well as the director was in his own move. The mood was set perfectly with the
dialogue and the way the father interacted with the son. The director purposely made it be that all
the Nazis were mean so we could see or get an assumption that almost all Nazis were mean
people, in particular all the SS Officers. Another thing that I found very efficient was the use of
music making it not just intense but extremely sad, as well as lighting was a great part in the film
most of it was regular sunlight for what I saw and it made it look like it was not acting but real life.
Last was the atmosphere were the movie was filmed the surrounding the way the set up was. The
set looked to be on point with the time and the time period.
11) Discuss how what you saw in the film relates to one of the assigned readings or class
Discussions we have had. Be specific! {150 words}
I think this fill really touches on not just one but almost all the readings starting with the race ones.
The fact that the Nazis were going out and separating, gathering and eliminating humans because of
the way they looked and for what they believed was not right. The reading that I can try to relate this
too which might not seem much but its that race comes from the location you live and the culture
youre from. The one where he says hes white but he really is Irish. The Jews are labeled such a
name because of their religious views for all the people in the movie new they were Italians. Also not
too much of a point in the movie but the fact that they had to break the women for the men was an
important view and it opened my eyes to see that even during this time women still got treated
different. It was better to be a Jew man that a Jewish lady even during this time. I Conceder it all to
be a social make up We are all human.
12) Why do you think I assign an international film?
I think that you assigned us to watch an international film so we can get another point of view
of humanity and develop our own thought and individualism. Also to experience other cultures
without having to leave the country or house. Its important to see how other cultures in the world
have been affected with certain types of aspects that we have been talking in class and how it
doesnt just occur in the United States.