What makes it a great movie?

The ironic part is it is NOT Roberto Benini it is the story behind the story... the story of a father who makes something as tragic and dehumanizing as the holocaust into a game for his little son to spare him from a lifetime of mental anguish and torture, eventually giving up his life to save his sons... and yes the tank... the boy got the tank

He was pretty amazing. But it's really everything that took place in the concentration camp. When I first saw this movie, it was in my italian class. We watched the first half, and it was a fun jolly story. We thought it ended when they got together. We came back to class after a break and the teacher played the rest. it just...became shilndlers list. But it was done so beautifully, and Benini's character was superb, as was his acting. It's just such a wonderfully sad and beautiful film. My whole family, including my big brother, has admitted to crying through it! Also, the music he playes to his wife makes me so sad when i hear it now! I think it's great because it starts off as something entirely different and the second half doesn't try so hard to make you feel scared or sad. Other war films are very much 'this is serious and horrible and terrible' whereas Life is Beautiful was very much 'ok, this is bad, but we're going to get through it'. If that makes sense?

The storyline that depicts how beautiful life is in its ugliest form is what makes this superbly great!

the sudden climax in d movie when they are all taken to d concentration camp & the series of events that take place there make the movie really remarkable...! The way he keeps his song engaged and protects him is wat makes IT A GREAT MOVIEEEEE!!!