Cerilla, Erika Faye B.

ABELS 3-2

1. Give 5 brief character sketches of your 5 chosen characters in the film. 3-5 sentences
each character.

• Guido is played by Roberto Benigni; he is the protagonist of the film. He is a very

charming, optimistic, and imaginative man who protects his son form the horror
of the concentration camp by convincing him that the camp is just a game. For
me Guido’s humor and love for his son is his main weapon against the brutal
reality of the concentration camp.
• Dora (Nicoletta Braschi) is Guido's wife. She is a non-Jewish woman who is
smitten with Guido at first sight. Dora is a brave and resolute girl who puts her
life in danger to be with her family.
• Giorgio Cantarini plays Giosue, Guido and Dora's toddler son. Giosue is naive and
innocent, yet he is also wise and intelligent. Guido tells his son that their stay in
the concentration camp is all a game, which serves to keep Giosue from realizing
the gravity of their position.
• Horst Buchholz plays Dr. Lessing, the camp doctor. He is a likeable figure who
tries to assist Guido and his family. He also has feelings for Dora, which creates a
difficult relationship between the three characters.
• Guido's companion and fellow prisoner at the camp is Ferruccio. Sergio Bini
Bustric plays him. Ferruccio assists Guido with his plot to safeguard his son, and
their relationship adds some levity to an otherwise somber scene.

2. Describe the plot of the film in 3-5 sentences.

• "LLa Belle (es) Vita" is a tragicomedy film set during the Holocaust in Italy. Guido,
a Jewish guy, falls in love with Dora, a non-Jewish lady, and the couple had a son
named Giosue. Guido, Dora, and Giosue are transferred to a concentration camp
as World War II breaks out. Guido protects his kid from the horrors of the camp
by convincing him that their experience is a game. Guido's love for his family
gives him the strength to persevere in the face of adversity and make the
ultimate sacrifice to save his kid. The video is a moving reminder of the human
spirit's tenacity and the continuing power of love in the face of horrific suffering.
3. How do you feel watching the story unfold using a language that is strange /alien to you.
Give 5 reactions. The movie, the language and you.
• Initially, I felt confused and disoriented by the language barrier, particularly on
some parts of the story that doesn't have any subtitles. It can be tough for me to
follow the tale and grasp the complexities of the characters' feelings and actions.
• Despite the language barrier, I became drawn in the film's powerful visuals,
music, and performances, which fascinate and engage me to watch it more.
• At first, I felt confused and experience struggle in following the plot since I am
not that familiar with Italian language. Language barrier makes it difficult for me
to follow the plot and the flow of the story.
• I come to appreciate the universal themes and emotions that are portrayed in the
film. I feel deeply moved by the story and the characters, even if tI don't
understand every word that is spoken.
• Overall, the beauty and tragedy of the story can still be appreciated, despite the
language barrier, and the film can serve as a reminder of the universal themes of
love, sacrifice, and resilience in the face of adversity.