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Life is Beautiful

Life is Beautiful

Date: May 09 2007

Themes: Pop Culture

Intro

1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.

2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

Scientists know that laughter is good for us. But it is so hard to laugh in the worst situations. Life Is Beautiful is a film about a man who tries to preserve creativity for his son in the most horrible situation imaginable.

Life Is Beautiful is a difficult movie to watch because, although it is light at times, it is also very emotional. Mason recently watched the film because a friend of his picked it out. Listen to Mason and Marni discuss Life Is Beautiful.

Dialog

1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.

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2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Mason

Mason

Marni

Marni

Mason:  I, I have lot of DVDs, so whenever I feel like watching a movie with a friend I usually have them check out my collection first. Last night…

Marni:  Do you have an impressive collection?

Mason:  Well, yes, I do, actually. But they picked a weird one, one I haven’t watched in a long time, Life Is Beautiful.

Marni:  Oh, God, I love that film.

Mason:  Yeah? I bought it right around when it came out, because it was such an incredibly…

Marni:  Powerful.

Mason:  Powerful, exactly what I was going to say, film. But it’s not one that I watch a lot because it…I don’t know…It’s an upper, it’s a downer...

Marni:  It’s kind of something I think you have to prepare yourself for. I mean, you know, do you really… Watching a film about the Holocaust just isn’t something you can watch lightly. It’s…

Mason:  But who would have thought they could have made a movie about the Holocaust that was kind of joking. It wasn’t making fun of anything certainly, but, uh…

Marni:  ...right…just making light of the situation.

Mason:  It’s finding a certain joy, you know, in the human experience...

Marni:  That’s a better way to explain it.

Mason:  ...that was even present, I suppose, in the most terrible of times.

Marni:  Well that’s the beauty of the film. This man was so involved in his son’s life and wanted to make it so seamless for his son, you know, just, “We’re in this new place. It’s horrible, but I’m going to try and transcend this and just create this beautiful thing.”

 

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Discussion

Mason has an extensive collection of DVDs, so he lets his friends pick from them when they watch a movie. A friend of his recently chose Life Is Beautiful, a film that both he and Marni love because it is so powerful, yet light-hearted.

Mason likes the movie because it has funny moments even though it takes place during the Holocaust. Marni agrees. She loves how the father in the film tries to protect his son from horror through imagination and laughter.

Are you able to find moments of happiness even in horrible situations? When have you laughed despite bad circumstances?

 

Comments

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Chris Tang

Chris Tang

China

a very touching film. I was deeply touched when I watched it first time

05:17 AM May 13 2007 |

joji

joji

Pakistan

it is really very good

 

06:22 PM May 12 2007 |

mzhuzhu

China

i want to see this film. i believe life is beautiful

05:42 AM May 12 2007 |

falco

falco

Italy

I find it great and touching…

08:09 PM May 11 2007 |

Tara101

Tara101

Nepal

I must say this movie is very touching and romantic. I think everyone should watch it ….!!!!!

05:20 PM May 11 2007 |

anndreno

anndreno

Brazil

Great film !

01:53 PM May 11 2007 |

Satomi

Satomi

Japan

i love Life is beautiful. i want everyone to recommend it.

07:16 AM May 11 2007 |

ruby-luong

ruby-luong

Viet Nam

oh, it is good

04:01 PM May 09 2007 |

sweetie_stela

Philippines

wahhhhh ! i suppose to rate the movie perfect… accidentally, my pc hanged… huhuhu now, the rate suddenly fell to 1-star-awful… im sorry…

04:48 AM May 09 2007 |

rikrdo_89

rikrdo_89

Peru

it was great

02:33 AM May 09 2007 |

Michellita

Michellita

Brazil

Oh, this movie is really beautiful. I loved it, and I also cried a lot… That father is a hero because despite the bad circumstances he
gave support to his son. Everyone should whatch it!

01:23 AM May 09 2007 |

Josh K

Josh K

Guatemala

that movie is moving and charming.

12:16 AM May 09 2007 |

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