Life is Beautiful, But Not for Jews: Another View of the Film by Benigni (Scarecrow Filmmakers Series)

136 Pages·2003·7.22 MB·English

by  Kobi Niv

Life Is Beautiful,

but Not for Jews
FILMMAKERS SERIES
edited by
ANTHONY SLIDE
1. /urrres Wlrale,by James Curtis. 1982
2. Ciricrrra Stylists, by John Belton. 1983
3. Hurry Loriytforr,by William Schelly. 1982
4. Willirirtr A. Wdlrrrori,by Frank Thompson. 1983
5. Sturrlq Dorim, by Joseph Casper. 1983
6. Brim Dc Pulrtrn, by Michael Bliss. 1983
7. 1.Stirurt Blnckfon, by Marian Blackton Trimble. 1985
8. Martiti Scorscsc nrid Midri~clCirrririu, by Michael Bliss. 1985
9. Frarikliri 1. Sclr~ifrrcrb,y Erwin Kim. 1985
10. D. W. Grififlr mid the Bioyrqdr Cornp~rrryb,y Cooper C. Graham et
al. 1985
11. Sorrrr Dry Wc’ll Lmirylr: Arr Airtobioyrrrplry, by Esther Ralston. 1985
7 2. Tlrc Mnrroirs of Alic-c Guy Blnclri, 2nd ed., translated by Roberta
and Simone Blacht!. 1996
13. Lcrri Ric.fi.rishilrlorid Olyrrzyia,by Cooper C. Graham. 1986
14. Rohcrt Floriy, by Brian Taves. 1987
15. Hl~rKyirry’s ArrrcvYc-o,by Walter Coppedge. 1986
16. Aliioirs Hrtslc1/ tirid Filrrr, by Virginia M. Clark. 1987
17. Fiw Arrrcricm Ci,rcrrrntc)sr.r.l7~ilrcb~yr sS, cott Eyman. 1987
18. Cirr~~rrriih~~r~ori1y lfil~rr~ Arrst urrd Crtlff of Cirr~‘riiatoyruplr!b/,y Anna
Kate Sterling. 1987
19. Stnrs cfflwS ilrrrts, by Edward Wagenknecht. 1987
20. T7o~ritirtlrG wtriry-Fox, by Aubrey Solomon. 1988
21. Hiyliliylits nrrd SI11i~io7vsT:lic Mcrrroirs oju Holly7oood Cnrtrcrurrran,
by Charles G. Clarke. 1989
22. I Went Tliut-n-Wny: Tlrc Mcnroirs if u Wcstcrrt Film Director, by
Harry L. Fraser; edited by Wheeler Winston Dixon and Audrey
Brown Fraser. 1990
23. Or1fr.r in tlic Llrriz)rrs~~T:lrc Film if /olrn Curpvitrv, by Robert C.
Cumbow. 1990 (orif ofyririf; SR’ No. 70)
24. Tlir Film of Frddic Frorrcis, by Wheeler Winston Dixon. 1991
25. Hollynwd hc Thy Nnrrw, by William Bakewell. 1991
26. Tlr~Clrrirrrr if Er~j/:Tlrc L;fi Iirrd Filrris (fRrrrrcc~Fislrrr, by Wheeler
Winston Dixon. 1991
27. Liorrlrcwrf if!Hol/pooif:Tlrr.Aiitohiogruplry of Hcri ry Wilcosorr,with
Katherine Orrison. 1991
28. Williarir Dcsriionil Tzylor: A Dossier,by Bruce Long. 1991

29. The Filriis of Lcrzi Rii.fL.rzstalrl,2nd ed., by David B. Hinton. 1991

30. Hollyuwoii Holyluriil: The Filririrrg arid Scoriris (f“Tlir Griwtrsf Story
Ezicr Told,“ by Ken Darby. 1992

31. Tlzc Films of Rc‘qitznld LeBorg: lritcrz~~euE~sss,iiys, urid Filrfrogrqilry,
by Wheeler Winston Dixon. 1992

32. Mcriroirs of ir Professioriiil Gid, by George Sanders, with Tony
Thomas. 1992

33. Tlic Holocuirst irz Frcricli Filni, by Andr6 Pierre Colombat. 1993

34. Robert Goldstein aiid “Tlv Spirit of ’76,” edited and compiled by
Anthony Slide. 1993

35. Those Were the Days, M!/ Frirrid: My L@ iii ~o~/ysoooioiiifh Dnuid
0.Selzirick arid Others, by Paul Macnamara. 1993

36. The Crerifivc Prodirccr, by David Lewis, edited by James Curtis.
1993

37. Rcimvrtiri~Rmilifi/: The Art arid Lif2 of Rorrbni Manrorrlimi, by
Mark Spergel. 19%
38. Molc.oliir St. Clair: His Filnis, 1915-1948, by Ruth Anne Dwyer.
1997

39. Rryorid Holl!/icwod’s Grusp: Airr~ric~riF ilrirrrriikcrs Abro1111,
1914-1945, by Harry Waldman. 1994

40. A Steaily Disimsiori to (I Fised I’oirit, by Rose tlobart. 1994

41. Rrirlicul ]ir.utapositiotz: The Filmo f Yz~oririrRizirrcr, by Shelley Green.
1994

42. Coirrpiiy of Heroes: My Life us iiii Actor iri tlrc john Ford Stock Coiir-
pariy, by Harry Carey Jr. 1994

43. Strarigcrs in Hoflyzciond: A History of Scarzdiiiaz~iiirzActors iii Arricri-
can Filnisfrm 1910 to World Wur 11, by Hans J. Wollstein. 1994

44. Clrarlic Cliaplirr: lritiniate Close-Ups, by Georgia Hale, edited with
an introduction and notes by Heather Kiernaii. 1995

45. Tlrc Word Mirile Flesh: Cutliolicisrn arid Coripict in tlir Filriis of Miir-
tiri Scorscsc, by Michael Bliss. 1995

46. W.S. Virn Dyke’s joiiriurl: White SlmAoios irz the Soirtlr Seas
(1927-1928) ar;d otlicr Vari Dyke ori Krri Dyke, edited and anno-
tated by R~idyB ehlmer. 1996

47. Music froirr tlic Hoiisc~of Hmiitrrer: Mirsic iri tlic ffririrrrrcr Horror
Filiirs, 1950-1980, by Randall D. Larson. 1996

48. Dirwting: Ltnrrz fYoni the Miisters, by Tay Garnett. 1996
49. Fmtiircd Plii!/cr: An Oriil Aiitobiogruplry of Mue Clarke, edited with
an introduction by James Curtis. 1996
50. A Grtwt Lad!/: A Lifi. (ftlrc Scrwriwritcr Soya Leuicri, by Larry Ce-
Flair. 1996
51. A History (IfHorrors: Tlrr Risc arid Fall (ftlie Hoirsc of Harrinr~>rb,y
Denis Meikle. 1996
52. TIrr Film of Micliacl Pozucll arid tlic Arclrrrs, by Scott Salwolke. 1997
53. Frorrr Oz to E.T.: Wally Worsly’s Half-Ccritirry iri Holly7uoo~f-
A Mrrrroir iri Collaboratiori witli Sire Dwiggiris Worsley, edited by
Charles Ziarko. 1997
54. Tliorold Dickirisort arrd tlic British Cirrcma, by Jeffrey Richards. 1997
55. TIrc Film of0liuc.r Storic, edited by Don Kunz. 1997
56. Biforc, lri arid Affcr HO//!/?i~OOdT:l ic Airtobiogragliy of/osqdr E. Heri-
abery, edited by Anthony Slide. 1997
57. Ravished Armenia arid tlrc Story (if Aurora Mardigariiari, compiled
by Anthony Slide. 1997
58. Srrrilr. Wlrcri tlic Rairiilrops Fall, by Brian Anthony and Andy Ed-
monds. 1998
59. /U~P\J/~H. LLWJ~OS:~ ~rz~iilr~iiteur,~ ~iiawr,id Filrriograyliy, by Francis
M. Nevins. 1998
60. Sq~f~~rrrSbocrrig: Air Irifirrrafc Biography of Waltcr Hustori, by John
Weld. 1998
61. W@ of tlic L@ of tlrc Rirty, by Lita Grey Chaplin and Jeffrey
Vance. 2998
62. D07i~riBiit Not Qiritc. Oirt iri Hollow-zurird: A Docirrrwritary in Lcttcrs
of Eric Kriiglit, by Geoff Gehman. 1998
63. 011Actors arid Actirrg Essnys by Alrxundcr Kiiox, edited by An-
thony Slide. 1998
64. Back Lot: Gro~iii~Uqp ruitlr tlrc Mozks, by Maurice Rapf. 1999
65. Mu. Hrrrids Goes to Holly7uood: My Early Lij? arid Carwr in Soirrtd
Rrcordirig at Coliiirrbia zoitli Frarik Capra arid Otlicrs, by Edward
Bernds. 1999
66. ffirgu Fricdlro@r: Tlir Bcsf kirs of His L@: A Holl!~i.uoodM astcr of
Mirsicfor tlic Movics, edited by Linda Danly. 1999
67. Actors or1 Rcd Alrrt: Carwr lr~f~~rz7u~itilr~ Fwiws A ctors arid Actrcsscs
Affi.ctcd by tlic Blncklist, by Anthony Slide. 1999
68. M+LO/ rily Grlrit IJassiori: TIrc L@ arid Filrirs (fCarl TIi. Driyr, by
Jean Drum and Dale D. Drum. 1999
69. Rimly Wlicw You Arc, Mr. Coppula, Mr. Spidbiyq, Mu. Crou~b~y, J erry
Ziesmer. 1999
70. Ordrr iri tlrc Llriiu~~rscT:l ic Filrris of Jolrri Carpcrrter, 2nd ed., by
Robert C. Cumbow. 2000
71. MrikiriX Mirsic 7uifh Charlie Cliiipliri, by Eric James. 2000
72. Arz Opz Wiiido7u: The Cirzcrira (fVictor Ericc, edited by Linda C.
Ehrlich. 2000
73. SafyajifR q: 111 S~iircloif tlic Modcrrr, by Suranjan Ganguly. 2000
74. Voic~fsro w flrp Scf: Tlrc Film Heritage lrit~r77i~7uesd, ited by Tony
Macklin and Nick Pici. 2000
75. Pnrrl Lnridrw A Dirwfor‘s Storicis, by Francis M. Nevins. 2000
76. No Film iri My Crirncrrr,by Bill Gibson. 2000
77. Sa-cidfrnrir Obliviori:An Arrtohiognq~/ryb,y Bernard Vorhaus. 2000
78. Worf Mnrz’s Maker: Mcrrroir qf 11 Hollyroood Writcr, by Curt Siod-
mak. 2001
79. Ari Acfor, nrid n Raro Ow: Prfcr Cirslririy (is Slicrlock Holrrrcs, hy
Tony Earnshaw. 2001
80. Picfrrrc Pcrfi.cf, by Herbert L. Strock. 2000
81. Pctcr Gr~~criuruoy’Psost~~rod~~rri/PostsfrzrcfrrrCrirr/iicsrfria, edited by
Paula Willoquet-Maricondi and Mary Alemany Galway. 2001
82. Mcrrrbcr c,ff/ic Cr~770b,y Winfrid Kay Thackrey. 2001
83. Brir~footor1 Bnrbrri Wire, by Jimmy Starr. 2001
84. Htwy Haflr~zci~A~ yD:i rectors Girilii (fArircvicn On?/History, edited
and annotated by Rudy Behlmer. 2001
85. Tlrc Diziiric Co/rric:Tlic Ciricrrrri of Rolicrfo Bcriipi, by Carlo Celli.
2001
86. With or Witliotrf17 Soriy: A Mcrrroir, by Edward Eliscu. 2001
87. Stirart Er7viri: TIic Irioisiblc Acfor, by Judy Comes. 2001
88. Sorrrc Crrffirig Rcrirclrks: Scwrity Ytnrs 17 Filrrr Erfifor, by Ralph E.
Winters. 2001
89. Corlfi.ssiorisof u Ho//!/zoooii Dirc‘cfor,by Richard L. Bare. 2001
90. ~PCkif?[Jd?~’OsI 7iCfJA: R(>a/Jpt“?is(r?f/fhP P(Wfi’U!/d Of WOfiiiV?ifff /fP
Pcriod Wcsterris of Srinr Peckinpdr, by Bill Mesce Jr. 2001
91. Brdd Sclrirlbcrg: A Bio-Bib/~[~Xr[i[~b/yr! /N, icholas Beck. 2001
92. Bc~~uLf‘hcc~ B~rrllcts: The Spirifiriil Cirrnir~?(flohn Woo, by Michael
Bliss. 2002
93. Tlic Hollyuiooif I Krieru: 1926-1 988, by Herbert Coleman. 2002
94. Tlrc. Film c$Sh>zwz Spirlb~rge,dited by Charles L. P. Silet. 2002
95. Hitchcock arid tlic Mrikiri‘q of Marrric, by Tony Lee Moral. 2002
96. Wliifc HOK+CB, l ~ Hkil t: A Qiriirfi’r C(>\ifi/r!(1/1 1 ~0//!/7UOOdP’~o~rf!/
Ro7u, by C. Jack Lewis. 2002
97. Worrirs it1 tlir Wirieciry:A Mcrrroir, by John Bright. 2002
98. Sfrsiglzf fium flrc Horse’s Morrflr: Roriald N~nrricA, ir Airfobiogruphy,
by Ronald Neame. 2003
99. Rcvclifor tlrc Top: Tlrr nrrbtrlcrit Lifi. of Liziirericr Huurwy, by Anne
Sinai. 2003
100. Juckie Coogmi: The World’s Kirig: A Biogruphy of Hollyn~ood’s
Boy
Lcgrndary Child Star, by Diana Serra Cary. 2003
101. Riirzgs or1 u Luddcr: Hanittwr Filriis Sceit tlrrotiglz u Soff Guiizr, by
Christopher Neame. 2003
102. Tlie Classically Aincricurt Coritrdy if Larry Gclhart, by Jay
Malarcher. 2003
103. Pcrprttially Cool: Tlrc Muti!/ Lirm of Artria May Worzg (1905-1961),
by Anthony 8. Chan. 2003
104. Irc.rrc Dtinizc: The First Lady of Holfyzuood, by Wes D. Gehring.
2003
105. Scorscsc Up Closc: A Sfrrd!/if tlrc Filirrs, by Ben Nyce. 2003
106. Hitclrrock urtd Poc: The Lcgmy qf Dcli,ylrt arid Error, by Dennis R.
Perry. 2003
107. Lifi. Is Bcaiitifril, hut Not for \c7i~:Airotlzrr z)ino of tlrr Filirr by Be-
Iiigiii, by Kobi Niv, translated by Jonathan Beyrak Lev. 2003
Life Is Beautiful,

but Not for Jews

Another View of
the Film by Benigni
Kobi Niv
Translatedfrom the Hebrew
by Jonathan Beyrak Lev
Filmmakers Series, No. 107
The Scarecrow Press, Inc.
Lanham, Maryland, and Oxford
2003
SCARECROW PRESS, INC.
Published in tlie United States of America
by Scarecrow Press, Inc.
A wholly owned subsidiary of
The Rownian & Littlefield I'ublishing Group, Inc.
4501 Forbes Boulevard, Suite 200, Idanham, Maryland 20700
Www.scarecrowpress.com
1'0 Box 317
Ox ford
OX2 ORU, UK
Copyright 02003 by Kobi Niv
I wish to express iny gratitude to the Hubert Burda Center for Innovative
Communications at Ben Gurion University of the Negev in Israel for its sup-
Fort for the translation of the book into English.
A//rights rcssrwd. No part of this publication may be reproduced,
stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any
means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise,
without the prior permission of the publisher.
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Inforination Available
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Niv, Kobi.
[Hachairn yafiin aval lo li-Yehudim. English]
Lifc is beautiful, but not for Jews : another view of tlie filai by
Benigni / Kobi Niv. -I d c d.
p. cni. -(Filmmakers series ;no. 107)
ISBN 0-8108-4875-9 (alk. paper)
1. Vita P bella (Motion picture) 2. Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945),
in motion pictures. I. Title. 11. Series.
PN1997 .V5373 N5813 2003
791 .43'72-d~21
2003010781
@'
The pa j7er used in this publication meets the minimum requirements
of American National Standard for Information Sciences-Permanence of
Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI/NISO 239.48-1992.
Manufactured in the United States of Amcrica.
Contents

Acknowledgments xi

...
Dedication Xlll
Before I Begin xv
1 Hitler’s Holiday Camp 1

2 Reality as Fairy Tale 17

3 See No Evil, Hear No Evil 33

4 A World without Jews 51

5 Annihilation as Salvation 71

6 Gift and Sacrifice 85
7 What Is This Film About, Anyway? 95

Afterthoughts: Success Does Not Lie 103

About the Author 107

ix