This is a simple story… but not an easy one to tell.
Roberto Benigni. La vita e’ bella (1997)

What are those things that we are all afraid of? What are those things that we try not to think about? Is there something we would never like to experience? Death… loss… desperation… The story, that has impressed me like no other, is the story of the most beautiful and the most tragic in life. There is unconditional love and unbelievable despair. The story is not only the product of someone’s imagination, but is the truth that might have happen to the certain amount of people. We are talking about the II World War period, when thousands of Jews were placed to the extermination camps by the Nazi regime. La vita e’ bella (Life is beautiful) tells us the story of one family, where the husband is a Jew, his wife – Italian and a little jewish-italian boy – their son.

Guido and his son were taken to the camp because of their nationality, but Dora was brought there by her love and dedication to her family. She chooses not to stay away from what is happening, but to be right there with those, who she loves, even if it means to die. I was so impressed by this woman character, it embodies selfless love in its’ highest form. Watching this movie you can assure yourself one more time that mothers’ love is above comprehension.

But still the main character of the story is father. He is so extravagant in his desire to save his child and not let him even know of what is happening. He plays his role; he pretends that all that is going on around is just a game. And you wouldn’t like to lose!

The game starts now. You have to score one thousand points. If you do that, you take home a tank with a big gun. You can lose all your points for any one of three things. One: If you cry. Two: If you ask to see your mother. Three: If you’re hungry and ask for a snack! Forget it! (Guido)

Fear, death, desperation, hopelessness is around every day and Guido is just having fun playing with his son! Can you imagine what was there in his soul that time? He still knew that there is a great chance for them not to get out alive. And the father was hiding his precious child in a barrack not to let him be taken to the “shower” with the other children. A great psychological moment that we face in that movie inspires! Inspires to believe that human being is not only about physical issues. What do we see in the camp? Exhausted people begging either food or death, they are weak, their eyesight is empty. Each day someone dies. And our hero, as if he is not a human being, always positive and ready to have fun! Of course it only seems to be so.

That what is impressive – courage of the character! At the beginning of the movie we see him as a little bit careless and easygoing guy, like Italians say “la testa fra le nuvole”, but then we discover how much is hidden behind the scenes of his appearance and behavior. There are unlimited capabilities inside of humans’ nature that appear at the moment of pressure and struggle, when life of your child depends on you and every mistake is a “game over”.

One more thing that I love about this movie is its’ romance. Guido finds a place for little romantic moments, he always looks for an opportunity to tell his wife how much he loves her. No matter that she is behind the wall in the woman camp. No matter that Guido doesn’t even know whether she’s alive or not. That is amazing! Triumph of faith and love!

Do not wait for the happy end; this story will not treat you that much. There is always a price, and sometimes the price is uncountable. Guido sacrifices himself, but his family will live.

“We got a thousand points and we won the game! Daddy and me came in first and now we won the real tank! We won! We won!” (Guidos’ son)

This story can change the way you see the world around. Your attitude to life will never be the same. I would recommend everyone to watch the movie, positive emotions, tears and laugh are guaranteed.

Talking about the book that has changed my outlook, I would mention “1984” by George Orwell. It took few hours for me to read this book to the end, I just couldn’t stop. I won’t retell the whole thing, I’ll just share some of my thoughts on this novel. It takes you to a different world, and you don’t feel yourself comfortable because this world is full of government control, manipulation over people, humiliation and dictation, and all of this they call English Socialism. But I can say that it only seems so, that this world is different from ours.

In Oceania you have to obey, to listen and to love the Big Brother and he is always watching over you. There are so many regular to the most of us things that are prohibited in Oceania, but they say it is all only for people; not to control or to humiliate them, but only for good – to protect and to save them from suffer. And they all live in this system, and as long as you do not resist, you are safe and “happy”. But, of course the story is about the one, who crossed the line. In fact there were two of them – man and woman.

The most incredible moment of this book for me was the short moment of freedom, when those two people broke away from the system, at least for a few hours. They went to the secret place, away from the civilization to make love to each other, and that was the culmination, a moment of freedom of mind and body. In Oceania, by the way, making love is a “sin”, no one should love and the Ministry of Love is watching over this strictly.
The book is amazing, no doubt, everyone should read it. And not only read it, but think on it over and over. Don’t we all live in Oceania? The Big Brother is watching…