Examples of Positive Living in Roberto Benigni's Film <i>Life is Beautiful</i>

Roberto Benigni's extremely popular film Life is Beautiful is an exercise in absolute positivism, despite the progressively dismal setting and the disappointments its main characters must face. The principle character, Guido (played by Benigni), is a model of positive living. This extends, perhaps simply through contact with Guido, to his family-wife Dora (played by Benigni's wife, Nicoletta Braschi) and son Giosue (played by Giorgio Cantarini)-who carry core values shared by Guido throughout the film. Specific types of positive living as outlined by Loren Ford (2004) in his book "Human Relations: A Game Plan for Improving Personal Adjustment" portrayed in the film include: strong values; firm decision making; meaning through dedication and service to others; flow through creativity; love; and letting go (pp. 271-290).

Early on in the film we are introduced to Guido's charm and sense of humor in his absolute pursuit of his love, Dora, in an attempt to lure her away from her fiancé and convince her that he (Guido) is the right man for her to love. Guido displays unfailing optimism in this goal. His love extends after marriage, is bestowed upon their son, and remains in full effect even under the most difficult and horrifying of circumstances. His dedication to Dora is inspiring.

Furthermore, Guido's sense of purpose includes his responsibilities as a husband and father, and he serves his wife and son unfailingly. The movie ends with the family in a Nazi concentration camp, owing to the fact that Guido is a Jew. Ford (2004) writes that "To help, nurture, or serve others provides meaning for many individuals (p.276)." This is certainly true in Guido's case, and there is no more straightforward an example than his final sacrifice on behalf of his wife: he risks certain death to attempt to rescue her after making many attempts to contact her through various creative and comical means. He is, in fact, captured and murdered by camp guards. It is a bittersweet ending to a life defined by acts of altruism.

Guido also displays tremendous dedication to his goal of opening a bookstore, thereby finding meaning in the task of becoming a bookstore owner. When he relocates from the country to the city to find work, it is his ultimate desire. He works hard at other jobs he has no particular interest in performing, such as working at a hotel, until he is able to achieve his dream. It is his resourcefulness, optimism, and creativity that help him to be successful in all but his final major goals.

Another example of creativity is in how Guido finds "flow" in his life. Ford (2004, p. 283) relates how researcher Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi found that flow can be considered "the enjoyment we experience when we are engaged in mental and physical challenges that absorb us." Ford (2004) further explains how Csikszentmihalyi suggests that one method of achieving flow through creativity is in being creative problem solvers. Guido is the ultimate creative problem solver, thinking fast on his feet in all circumstances.

One example of this is in the "game" he devises when in the concentration camp to protect his son from the Nazis. He tells Giosue that the camp is part of a grand game, the prize of which is a genuine tank. He then gives Giosue a set of instructions, adding to the list as is necessary, to keep his son from suffering unduly. 

Another example of how Guido employs creative problem solving with respect to his son is in a poignant moment when Giosue inquires as to the meaning of the signs restricting the freedoms of Jews and dogs (degradation in itself). Guido explains how there is no real logic to this, and it is simply a random selection of groups of people and things. He makes light of it in an attempt to reduce any measure of distress.

Another method of positive living suggested by Ford (2004, p. 272) is values. Both Guido and Dora display unfailing values, never wavering even in the face of absolute adversity. Dora has the choice of abandoning her family or being taken with them by the Nazis, and still she remains true to her husband and son. She does this knowing it means she will end up in a camp herself. It is also an example of making a difficult decision, which is no strange concept to Guido, either.

Guido's last decision is arguably the most difficult decision any human must make: a decision of life or death. His choice to attempt to find Dora is one that comes with death, should he fail. He is aware of this danger when he tells his son to hide and attempts his bold goal. And yet he perseveres, decisively, and it is this courage that I carried with me from the scene, despite its painful end with Guido's death.

Guido's final actions are guided by immense love, and it is his love that brightens the world for those around him. He fairly well exudes love and passion, which I personally found to be deeply inspiring. Ford (2004, p. 286) talks about the importance of love in positive living, and there are few goals as noble as spreading love in the world. Guido does this by touching individual lives. This is, I believe, the best way that any of us can affect positive, loving change: by making the effort to bring love into even one life during the course of our own. Guido succeeds not only in the film, but in the audience. Benigni's brilliant character has touched countless viewers.

Finally, Ford (2004, pp. 285-286) discusses a difficult but important task in well-being and positivism: letting go-the ultimate act of forgiveness. It is one thing to accept an apology, or even to forgive those who have wronged us but not apologized, but it is quite another to give up the hurt and move on. This is the essence of letting go. I believe that one specific example of letting go is seen in the final moments of Guido's uncle's life. As he is facing death in the concentration camp, a female guard trips before him. He helps her, an act that seems mystifying when you consider that the Nazi's have sealed his fate. Yet I believe he has forgiven them and let go of the hurt. He has made peace and his compassion triumphs over any negative feelings.
This seminal film is in itself a way to live more positively! I challenge anyone to view it and not take away from it at least one lesson for living a more positive life. Whether that lesson is employed is up to the individual, but I believe this movie is as educational as Ford's text when it comes to demonstrating positive lives.


References

Ferri, E., & Braschi, G., (Producers), & Benigni, R. (Director). (1998). Life is Beautiful [Motion picture]. Italy: Miramax.

Ford, L. (2004). Human relations: A game plan for improving personal adjustment (3rd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall.