Life is Beautiful
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I re-read the movie synopsis last night and balled my eyes out. The first time I watched “Life is Beautiful” was in my freshman year of high school English class. Even 16 years later, my heartstrings still tug when I think of this movie and the simple fact that this heart-breaking movie is worthy of its name: “Life is Beautiful.”
This movie is equal parts heart-wrenching and awe-inspiring…the bravery and devotion shown by Guido is truly something else.
The part that guts me everytime I think about the movie is the ending. Literally one day before the camp is liberated by American forces, Guido gets caught by a guard and is shot to death in an alleyway. One day – just one day – before they could all be reunited (with his wife too), his happy ending was taken from him.
I think the reason this movie resonates so deeply with me is because of its portrayal of a parent’s infinite and indestructible love for their children. A father’s love for his young son as he shields the boy with imagination and positivity from the cruelty of a WWII concentration camp. The movie really captures the lengths a parent is willing and brave enough to go to to protect their child. They say that once you become a parent yourself, you understand. I trust that, and yet, it’s still quite hard to fathom and imagine for myself. Growing up with a single mom, I was very aware of the sacrifices she made to give me and my two siblings the best upbringing possible. As I look back on that, I wonder - would I be able to do the same for my children if I were in the same shoes? If I were in Guido’s shoes, would I also be able to muster up the courage and bravery to face every day with even half the optimism and positivity to keep my child safe? I think the answer is yes, and it makes me 😭 just thinking about how beautiful life is when love triumphs all.