Life Is Beautiful (DVD, 1999, Collector's Edition)

This movie is a must see. Not only did I enjoy it because I am Italian but moreso because it revealed the love that a wife has for her husband; the love a father has for his son and the perservering love that the husband had for the wife. It was a reminder of how sometimes in life we tend to put the stresses of life on our children when that is so unnecessary. Amazingly, this father protects his son's innocence with the game of hide and seek and shelters him from the excruitating circumstances he, his wife and the others were enduring. In this movie the wife gave up her freedom to be with her husband and son; the father hides his pain and suffering so that his son will not suffer. This was a wonderful reminder of how children should be allowed to be children and enjoy the innocence of childhood without the stresses of life that adults endure. Whether you are Italian, Jewish or not; this movie will touch your life, remind you of love, sacrifice and the innocence of childhood. You will laugh, you will cry but you will come out with something to remember. A must see, A must buy.

This is my all time favorite movie. It is a must to add to any movie collection. The soundtrack is beautiful. This is a very powerful and moving film, it will make you laugh and cry. I give this movie 2 thumbs way up.

I saw the film on television and was so impressed that I wanted to own a copy. It was a must to purchase the letterbox format, so I could view the film as it should be seen. This film is a unique, strange combination of humor and tragedy. If you enjoy a movie that is not like all the rest, well made and memorable, this is the one!

I never watch a dubbed version of a movie when the original version is available with English subtitles. You miss out on a great deal of the flavour and affect and in this respect you lose a lot in the translation with a dubbed approach. This movie is called "La Vita e bella/Life is beautiful" in the combined Italian/English version and that is how I recommend you purchase it.

This is a movie with a lot of potential to teach. It teaches the value of honesty as a way of life in that this can be fully retained when a man is simply acting in a humorous spirit to make life seem more bearable and to spare children an ugly reality that surrounds them. Yet there is a spirit that continues in Benigni's character as a man who'd like to stay sane honestly enough that he will conjure up a version of events to keep his audience with him and in good humour. Such characters are always trying for as much real honesty as the situation will allow however they have learned a defensive coping mechanism to telling it like it is. And in this respect perhaps his son at the end has a better view of the world than is justified however fact is that he is being lied to by a man who thinks he is being a better father this way. Its a great story that touches on the travesty and the tragedy of the holocaust, as Italian jews were not spared this fate although many were harbored by good Italians who could not go along with Hitler's madness in this respect.

This movie to us was a clear reminder of how much we have to be thankful for. We find ourselves in many occassion complaining about what we want or dont have, when in reality all we need is a different perspective. As the title clearly demonstrates, life is beautiful.

We purchased this DVD to remind us not to forget to be grateful.

I bought this DVD because it is a film that can be viewed over and over and not get old or boring. Love is expressed by the characters in so many ways.

Excellent movie. Quality copy with options to view either dubbed in English or Italian with subtitles.

We have seen this movie several times. It is delightful and yet poignant story of romance and sacrifice. We are trying to collect a few of the movies that we believe to be real "keepers" that we can pass on to our children, movies that tell wonderful timeless tales that reflect values that make life, with all of its struggles, worth living. This is such a movie. We have a few others like "It's a Wonderful Life", "Hoosiers", "Brave Heart" that speak to us of nobility in the face of great challenges, and of sacrificial love. "Life is Beautiful" does this and even adds some remarkable humor in the midst of the turmoil and hate of WW2. It runs the gamut of delight to tragic sorrow. It is, by all means, a "keeper".

My daughter watched it in school as a class and could not say enough about it. She begged me to get it and watch it. Even though it was in subtitles, you were totally absorbed by the story....a father's love for his child and what lengths he would go through to protect him both mentally and physically. Beautiful story and acting.

This is one of my favorite movies of all time. I generally like foreign films (this is Italian, but you can watch in English if you want). It is a unique movie, but I don't want to give it away. It's a wonderful love story and story about family. Must see!

I loved the story line and the subtitles in English. I have been trying to learn Italian, so this movie has helped with that goal too, but I bought the movie for the story and I love the acting from the main stars. I think the story was very cleverly written and well portrayed some of the hardships the jewish people faced during the war and the camps. The ending was sad, but it made the movie even more valuable to treasure the characters.

It has the italian version and you have the option to turn on or off the english subtitles. It also has the english dubbed over.

Life is Beautiful is a very heartfelt movie taking place during the Holocaust. One family is torn apart and endures terrible hardships. During everything they endure they never gave up the 2 things that keep people strong : love and hope

This is one of my favourite movies of all time. A humorous yet tragic look at a Jewish Italian family's struggle with incarceration at a Nazi war camp. Throughout it all the father manages to not only hide his son from the germans but convince him (with creativity and humour) that the whole thing is a competition that all prisoners are participating in.

This is not so much a story of the holocaust as of a father's love and sacrifice.

Everybody needs to see this at least once. My recommendation is to get the subtitled version as the dubbed english translation of necessity changes some of the dialogue.

THIS MOVIE IS THE BEST I HAVE SEEN SO FAR. IT SAD BUT YET IT MAKES YOU LAUGH. IS A MIXTURE OF COMEDY AND DRAMA WELL COMBINE. TWO THUMB UP!

Many movie fans shy away from foreign films because they have subtitles, or their over all composition is in a very different, and sometimes confussing style. This, however is one that you should not miss. It is funny, horrifying, touching, and suspenceful. It is about an Italian Jew who is taken to a concentration camp with his young son in WWII. To keep his son alive, he tells his son that it is all a game -- a silence game, or hide and seek, or a see-how-long-you-can-go-without-eating game. Driven by the desire to win the game, his son becomes quite good at remaining invisible to the Germans. The most remarkable trait this film possesses is that it is funny in parts, without compromising the seriousness and utter horror in other parts. In fact, I think the humor makes the horror that much worse.

it moved my feelings...i watched half of it on HBO if i am not wrong and i wanted to see the end...i am very happy and i recommend...

This movie was great. If you like to learn a little of history, this movie is great. It's told in a great way in a famaly history.

the life have to be, smile and greetings smile an greetings,live happy in the life, work is god to, and enjoy the ride.

Shipped fast & CD was in great condition. =) I bought it for a friend they wanted it.... how much more letters do i need to write.. its a good product woo HOo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I like all WWII movies that have the Germans and Jewish prisoners its an unbelievable time it needs to never be forgotten.

this movie is spectacular. it's funny, while not detracting from the horrors of the holocaust. be warned, it's in italian, so unless you speak that language, expect the subtitles to be slightly distracting. fantastic movie.

Life is Beautiful is one of my favorite movie titles. The setting takes place during World War II and the Nazi halocaust. Even though the plot of this story takes place during one of the darkest times in the world's history, this movie tells a tale about a father's love for his family. The main character's name is Guido, the father of a five year old boy. He convinces his son that the concentration camp is a game that they are playing to win a real army tank which is the boy's favorite toy. Even among the death and horror that was present in the concentration camps, Guido was able to preserve his son's innocence and also keep him alive by hiding him in the barracks of the camp. This heart warming foreign film is a must see movie!