Many movies and books have recorded the events of the Shoah with accuracy, reverence and sensitivity.  Actor and director, Roberto Benigni, provides an account of a Nazi concentration camp in his film La Vita E Bella (Life Is Beautiful) from the perspective of the tragic and ironic. The Center for Christian-Jewish Understanding of Sacred Heart University in cooperation with the Circolo Italiano (Italian Cultural Club) of Sacred Heart University sponsored the film in the University's Schine Auditorium on Friday-Monday, November 12-15, 1999. Benigni, an Italian film maker, known primarily for his comedy, co-wrote and directed this powerful film and earned three Academy Awards and several David di Donatello--Italian Oscar--awards.

Benigni stars as Guido, a Jewish man who moves to Arezzo, Italy, in the hope of opening his own bookstore. Despite growing opposition towards Jews in Italy, Guido approaches life with a positive, unselfish and honest attitude. It seems that Guido's story will end in happiness because everything he does has a charmed quality about it. He marries the woman of his dreams and they have a son, Giosue, whom he adores, and he opens up the book store.

Suddenly, the movie changes dramatically, and his family and he are taken to a Nazi concentration camp. Guido transforms the terrors of the camp into a game for the sake of his son's mental health and survival. He tells his son that he has to hide or they will lose points in the game. He sustains his son through the horror of the concentration camp through the use of irony, humor and the undaunted search for beauty. The boy is eventually reunited with his mother.

After each of the showings of the movie at Sacred Heart University, refreshments were offered and discussion encouraged. On Sunday, November 14, several faculty members from different academic disciplines remained after the movie to discuss its multifaceted dimensions. Participants in the faculty panel included Dr. Marion Calabrese (English), Dr. James Castonguay (Media Studies), Dr. Sid Gottleib (English), Dr. Claire Marrone (Language, Literature and Media Studies), Dr. Roberta Staples (English), Dr. Brian Stiltner (Religious Studies) and Dr. Amy Van Buren (Psychology). Questions ranged from whether or not comedy was an appropriate vehicle for portraying the Holocaust, to should one treat some things at all-does one dare speak the unspeakable? Discussion included the topics of the different levels of comedy, the necessity of employing psychological coping mechanisms, the place of the ironic in culture and literature, and the ethical issue of keeping the truth from the young boy. Most of the scholars agreed that this was not only a film about the Holocaust, but that it also has relevance to the events occurring in such places as the former Yugoslavia.

Gabriel Bonnani, president of the Italian Club, said that he wanted to bring this film to Sacred Heart University because it was all about one's attitude. Alluding to the psychologist Victor Frankl, Bonnani said, "The one thing we can change and control in any situation is our attitude. This film is a testament to the human spirit and the courage of a father to protect his family as best as he could."

The 20th century has seen unprecedented destruction and leaves us with choices for peace or war, hope or despair, forgiveness or revenge, faith or doubt, and love or hate. Critics claim that Benigni muffles the horror and tames the reality for the sake of the viewers. One thing is clear, however, even through the worst circumstances in life, an attitude of hope and trust in God and others can be the characteristic that makes life beautiful.