Life Is Beautiful (1997)

1997 film by Roberto Benigni.

Year: 1997
Released: December 20, 1997
Runtime: 116 min
Genres: Drama, Comedy
Countries: Italy
Original language: Italian
Original title: La vita è bella
Director: Roberto Benigni
Writer: Roberto Benigni, Vincenzo Cerami
Music: Nicola Piovani
Awards: 8 won · 11 nominations

Plot

Life Is Beautiful is a 1997 Italian period comedy-drama film directed by and starring Roberto Benigni, who co-wrote the film with Vincenzo Cerami. Benigni plays Guido Orefice, a Jewish Italian man who first works as a waiter while courting a gentile schoolteacher, and later as a bookshop owner who employs his…

Summary source: Wikipedia (en) · CC BY-SA 4.0

Cast

Roberto Benigni as Guido Orefice
Marisa Paredes as Dora's mother
Horst Buchholz as Doctor Lessing
Nicoletta Braschi as Dora Orefice
Omero Antonutti as the voice of the narrator
Richard Sammel as Waffen-SS Officer
Lydia Alfonsi as Guicciardini
Giuliana Lojodice as the Headmistress
Raffaella Lebboroni as Elena
Giustino Durano as Zio
Giorgio Cantarini as Giosué
Gina Rovere as Dora's Maid

Frequently asked questions

Who directed Life Is Beautiful?

Life Is Beautiful was directed by Roberto Benigni.

When was Life Is Beautiful released?

Life Is Beautiful was first released on December 20, 1997.

How long is Life Is Beautiful?

Life Is Beautiful runs 116 minutes.

Similar titles

Sources and licences

Wikidata (CC0 1.0)
Wikipedia (en) · CC BY-SA 4.0
Poster: Wikipedia (en)

Updated November 13, 2026