Saw the Life Is Beautiful (1997) movie recently. It has occupied my thoughts since. It’s a dark comedy in that it blends comedy and tragedy together. As the main character is courting is wife and going through daily life he’s able to joke and make light of everything. Then once his family is sent to a concentration camp he uses all of his ability to hide the awful situation they are in from his son, pretending it’s all a game and that he’s having a good time to help maintain his son’s innocence and hope, to not let the events change who he is. He is completely devoted to his son’s well being which is so touching.
For me it has brought back many memories of myself and my own father. Growing up we had periods of fairly severe economic hardship. During a lot of it, I never really knew just how bad things were. I remember one time, I got a call from someone wishing to speak to my dad and I told them he was at work and I don’t remember the details because what they said in return led me to believe he wasn’t working. I later found out that he had been laid off but was activtly finding work but he didn’t want me to worry. He insisted things were good.
Another time, things were rough for work, and I remember he would go days with just eating bread and butter while I ate regular meals. He insisted that he wasn’t hungry. Later, I realized the truth, that we only had enough for me to eat. I could have ate less, but he didn’t want me to think anything was wrong.
When I think of of the many times he bought things I wanted and I ate well, I feel very guilty about it and also so much admiration for him for doing everything he could to make life as comfortable as possible at home which really was my only safe space as growing up I was generally very uncomfortable and depressed in the the outside world.
The genuine love from someone can really help overcome/endure the hardness and cruelties of the real world.
