Le tigre et la neige

After the Holocaust, Roberto Benigni tackles a more recent but still tricky subject: the second Gulf War.And just like he did with his masterpiece, La Vita è Bella, he perfectly mixes comedy and tragedy, telling a story about love, life and death.

The first half-hour is 100% comedy, as we see Attilio de Giovanni(Benigni) take care of his teenage daughters, teach poetry at university, befriend a camel and desperately woo a woman, Vittoria (Nicoletta Braschi).There's even time for a really funny Sergio Leone homage. The trouble begins when Vittoria is dying in a hospital in Baghdad during the war (she went to Iraq to write a book), and Attilio tries to save her life with the help of his friend and fellow poet Fuad (Jean Reno, whose Italian is remarkably good).Expect a race against the clock stuffed with some incredibly funny material: more camels, Attilio praying Allah (one of the highlights) and even getting caught by American troops because suspected of being a suicide-bomber ("I am Italian" is what he keeps screaming during said scene).

There are a few plot holes (mostly concerning Fuad and his final scene,which has no explanation), but luckily the movie works anyway. Benigni has lost none of his vitality, and he uses all of it in this great picture reminiscent of Chaplin's best films (there's an explicit reference to City Lights).

Poetic and unbelievably beautiful, not to mention really funny, it's a must-see for lovers of European cinema throughout the world.

8,5/10

The Tiger and the Snow is the best film Benigni has released since Life is Beautiful.Although no where as good as that film,this film still manages to provide humor in the midst of tragedy and horrors of war.I really like the way he blends comedy and tragedy and he's really good at that.But there are times when he overreaches and doesn't focus on the actual plot and goes beyond.But this is one film that you shouldn't miss and will definitely allow the audiences to swallow Benigni's last effort that didn't turn out that good.

A poet who talks only about life and love is struggling to woo a women that we know very little about ,except that she keeps appearing in his dreams as his bride.He keeps having the same dream with her in his dreams.So when he comes face to face with her,he decides to get her at all cost.But after almost coming close,she leaves him and he never hears from her again.Then all the sudden he gets a call that she is in bad condition stuck in Baghdad during the American invasion in Iraq.So begins his journey to Baghdad and once he reaches there ,he finds himself in a completely different place.He discovers that the women that he's in love with has some kind of sickness that needs to be cured within 4 hours.So the poet goes out on the streets,deserts,roads to find a medicine.And on his journey he comes across various odd,funny and touching situations.

This film is simple and straightforward ,just like Life is Beautiful,and just like that film,Benigni presents his story in a rather amusing sort of manner.He brings surprises and turns and joy whilst telling a weak story.He makes most out of himself to keep the audience unaware of the flaws and hold their attention with scenes that really have lasting effects.

One scene,in particular was towards the end,when the Poet and his friend Fuad(Jean Reno)look up the sky and talk about god and something related to existentialism ,they marvel the beautiful night sky revealing gorgeous stars and at the same time the bombings are taking place.Showing that even in the most horrific situations ,you can still find amusement,and beauty.There were many moments in the film that really make you laugh,feel,and sometimes coming close to cry for the characters.And for that Benigni has achieved something.

Benigni is 90% on screen,and that becomes repetitive.He can get on your nerves and annoy you to death and you just wish you wouldn't get to see him for at least five minutes.Benigni is covering the whole screen time and that is one of the drawbacks.He is so concerned about himself that he forgets about the development of some of the characters.But ,nevertheless he does charm you and puts a smile on your face,either a feigned smile or comfortable smile.He does leave an impact and you have to admire his talent as a Writer ,Director,and Actor.For other cast members,Jean Reno is surprisingly effective,(I didn't knew he was so good in Italian Language).He portrays his character with depth.You feel this secrecy in him.He is trying to hide something and then in the end you see it.He really is a standout other than Benigni.While Benigni's wife is not all that impressive.Most of the film,she doesn't act but just Lay on the bed.So ,she doesn't have much to do,other than admiring her husbands charm besides her.

This is a very well made film that revolves around the Iraq war.Probably first of the many films that will have the Iraq war as the concept.And this first attempt is by far very ,very satisfying.I really liked it.Don't expect it to be as wonderful or touching or even emotional as Life is Beautiful.Yes,it is sweet,it has its moments of success but all the while you're liking it, Benigni comes along and ruins your mood.Though,not fully successful,it still goes down as the first contender for the Foreign Language Category at the Oscars.But I doubt it.

Anyone who calls this film superficial, banal or trivial has spectacularly missed the point and is exactly the same type of person who was levelling precisely the same kind of criticism at La Vita è Bella. Now, though I do like Benigni (in my opinion La Vita è Bella is a masterpiece and films like Il Piccolo Diavolo, Johnny Stecchino and Il Mostro are exceedingly worthy comedies - that said I thought Pinocchio was an expensive disaster), I will try to be as objective as possible. In La Tigre e la Neve, Benigni repeats the masterfully delicate feat he accomplished in La Vita è Bella: he touches on complex, spikey issues (in La Vita è Bella it was the holocaust, here we have the war in Iraq) in a fable-like, simple manner - he doesn't politicise the film, and he doesn't delight in the gruesome (and very real) aspects of war. Yet this is NOT trivialisation of the subject matter. To believe that is to believe that the true horrors of war (or the holocaust) can only be conveyed on the screen by a documentary-style approach, and that cannot be the case. Benigni is far more effective - he does not shock the audience with visual representations of war, but his comedy in the face of war creates a subtle paradox that makes the whole film even more touching. La Tigre e La Neve is a fable about love, love in the face of adversity, stubborn optimism, hope and desperation and relationships between people of different races and creeds. Don't expect to see a Michael Moore rant at the injustice of war - Benigni is far more subtle. Perhaps the only criticism I have is that Nicoletta Braschi's performance is not always one hundred percent convincing, but Benigni and Reno more than make up for it. I truly hope it makes it on an international level - definitely a film to watch.

This is a poignant and moving fable about a sacrifice to save the sweetheart's life. It's an unforgettable story that proves imagination, family and love conquer all. It concerns upon Attilio(Roberto Benigni, a magnificent rubber-faced funnyman), a professor of poetry in Italia, he raises a darling pair daughters. He's a madcap romantic man and women(Emilia Fox) wish him. But he falls in love with Vittoria (Benigni's real-life sweetie Nicoletta Braschi, also producer). Every day Attilio dreams of marrying her, under Tom Waits songs , dressed in underpants and T-shirt. Vittoria trips to Irak along with Faud(Jean Reno),when the second War Gulf spontaneously breaks out . She's injured and Attilio is determined to save his lover from dangers around them and encounter medical care. His effort sometimes is pure fantasy , though with ruse he pull off more impetus to keep his wounded lover and accomplishes feats no man could realistically execute.

This is a story about love, war and sacrifice, well starred and directed by Roberto Benigni who develops a fire-line between comedy and tragedy. Inventive gags and wacky humor are splendidly proceeded. Benigni tirelessly maintains the humorous ingenuity, even as the horror war escalate. Actor and director Benigni shapes simultaneously haunting and hilarious comedy out of the tragedy of Irak. The film displays an emotive musical score by Nicola Piovani, Oscar winner by 'Life is beautiful'. Colorful and glamorous cinematography by Fabio Cianchetti. The motion picture is marvellously directed by Benigni. He's a good comedies director (Monster, Johnny Toothpick, Little devil) with some flop(Pinoccio) and usual actor for Jim Jarmusch(Coffee and cigarettes, Night of Earth, Down by law). Rating¨: Better than average. Well worth seeing.

I think the difference between the great and the normal artist lies in how they can re-produce the magic moments of art. The film "The life is beautiful" (TLIB) from Benigni was a nice surprise for me several years ago and now I thought let's see, what else he can do. To be absolutely honest this film is not as good, as the (TLIB), but I felt the magic once again. This film was not so deep, maybe, but it has something that I've never found in (american) comedies. There the source of the humor is often disgusting and it completely misses the real, intelligent humor, which can be found here. I definitely liked this film with all of errors and weaknesses in it. It's worth of watching.