Theology PAper

Theological Discernment and Cultural Exegesis of the Movie Life Is Beautiful Life Is Beautiful (1998) is one of the most memorable and original movies I have ever seen. It is not surprising for me, that the movie received so many great awards such as the grand prize at Cannes Film Festival and three Academy Awards, including Best Foreign Language Film and others. The central Idea of the movie Is to give people the understanding that it does not matter how much death, evil, and ugliness happens in the world there is always hope and good.

To understand that goodness, truth, and tatty of the relationships and human life finally triumph at the end despite of evil that Is made by Nazi military. After watching this movie 4 years ago, It really did make me think very much about life itself. At that time I was very concerned about my future and career opportunities, but finally I realized that nothing is more important than love and close relationships with people I love. This is the main reason why after seeing the name of the movie In the list, I knew It will be my first and the only choice of the movie would Like to write about.

The movie Itself portrays us a really rethinking story about a family love and their relationships with each other. It is a story of the main character – Guide, his son -Joshua and wife – Dora not in favor of Nazi troops who were continuously sentencing Jewish people to death only because of their race during the World War II. I could say that the two main characters of this small family, Guide and Dora, are showing a really strong love to each other that makes them able not only serve each other but also sacrifices for each other’s sake of good. For me this Is like two movies in one.

All this story Is presented Like two efferent lives from beautiful beginning to an unexpected suffering story that make us realize how easily a life can change, in particular when you least expect it. The first part of the movie presents us incredibly beautiful days where the plot takes is to the small village of Italy filled with an inspiring love story from the very first minutes when two extremely different people saw each other. Guide was as a Jew waiter who came there to his uncle with a dream to open his own book store, and suddenly by accident met an engaged Italian girl.

Unfortunately, after 5 years living happily gather, everything falls apart and changes. A breathtaking love story turns into to a horrible exile during the World War II where Jewish people are taken to the concentration camps for work and death. The movie itself is portrayed in a very interesting structure. From the very first sight we realize that it should be extremely heartbreaking due to the fact that such hard topic as an exile and death of innocent people Is unquestionably accepted as a very cruel thing to do to the whole community. N the contrary, the movie presents exile In a way of game and fun. Guide here is a father who does his best to keep his son from finding out the wicked truth about their situation in the camp. It is his primary goal to keep the son safe, while he Is trying to find out the way how to release his family from the camp and at the same time keeping German troops from finding this out. For his son, Joshua, the camp is presented as a competition where he is supposed to pursue all the given instructions.

If he does that, he will get more points and win the main prize – tank. I OFF protection of a son. For us it can be an example of Guide commitment to his family in very Christian way, because he is following Gods’ words from the Bible. He is doing exactly what he calls husbands and fathers to do – to take responsibility for their families: “Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth.

Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! ” (Psalm 127:3-5) Yes, the movie is talking about the war of good and evil, but for me Guide and his dedication to his family shows that it also presents us the beauty of human spirit, faithfulness and soul. Guide is like a real Christian serving his family, in the movie itself an uncle Eloise once told Guide that mire’s serving. You’re not a servant. Serving is a supreme art. God is the first servant. God serves men but he’s not a servant to men. Guide in the movie becomes the best example of a servant, no matter that he serves his family in his own way, he does not become humble, but rather he is perceived as a hero who is doing everything he can to save from harm his family. Guide served both, his son and a wife when he was going to look for Dora and in some moments of the movie emending her that both of them are still alive. It is Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. ” (Matt. 20:28).

He is doing this without event thinking he is a servant; he is like Jesus who served people for their good, with thinking to get something in return. Guide is not the only one in the movie who shows his love, serves, and sacrifices for his family. His wife, Dora does it as well, as a real Christian. From the very begging to the very end she is doing what she can to show love and dedication to her family members. She as a woman from a prominent Italian family would have never had to go to such a horrifying place as a concentration camp.

Unfortunately, due to the fact that her husband and son were Jews and had to be exiled, she showed her bravery and dedication. Right after the moment she found out that her Jewish husband and son have been taken by German soldiers, she went to the train station and tried to convince the soldiers that they have made a mistake. Sadly, an officer denied it of being a mistake and insisted her; she doesn’t belong there and has to go home. Dora id not do that, she demanded to be put on the train with the other people and be taken to the concentration camp.

Despite the fact that she was Italian, came from a very good family, she with no doubts has chosen to identify herself with Jews, the people who have been condemned. She gave up her own life and showed pure love and devotion to her family. Finally, in the end of the movie we are made to realize how beautiful this father-son game really is. Despite its setting in the context of death and cruelty Guide is able to inspire us for faith and believe in good. A father to only serves his son from the very first second there comes harm to him, but also shows his devotion by sacrificing his own life in order to keep both, his wife and son safe.

He is doing everything he can to save both of them as a true, loving father and husband would do. Guide offers a life of imagination to his son that is beautiful, even though he is very exhausted and oppressed, since he was working hard during the day in the camp. According to Russell B. Ramsey (n. D. ) Guide reflects Jesus’ words in the Bible, “Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends On. 5:13). ” He laid down for his family and was very strong psychologically not to joke and fun instead of going to panic.

This was a very courageous thing to do, and we can see how strong a man can be in situations where he has to protect his own family. To sum up, the movie is very unique, because of the authors’ ability to unite both, comedy and tragedy to one movie that is in general very hard to do. From the funny beginning it shifts to a tough story in a concentration camp while still maintaining elements of fun. Guide gives his son the gift loving and not knowing what is happening in reality. He does not mention the real truth about the camp and evil that surrounds them there.