MovieChat Forums > La vita è bella (1997) Discussion > Americans , really ?

Americans , really ?

posted 12 years ago by rabarbers144
21 replies | jump to latest

americans liberated auschwitz ?

Auschwitz was liberated by the Soviet Army (Russians), and no American troops were present or even near Auschwitz.

An Jewish Italian survivor of the Nazi death camps, whose story inspired the Oscar-winning film Life Is Beautiful,Rubino Romeo Salmoni was one of only a handful of Italian Jews who managed to survive being sent to the extermination and labour camps. He recounted his horrific experiences in a book, 'In the End, I Beat Hitler', employing flashes of irony and dark humour to describe conditions in Auschwitz, where he was sent.

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/soviets-liberate-auschwitz
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/When_did_the_US_liberate_Auschwitz

[–] fillshertease 12 years ago

At no time in the movie are we told which camp they are in. You are assuming that it is Auschwitz but there is no basis for that assumption...

[–] trash_wallyworld 10 years ago

It is well known the "striped pajama's" are what was issued to the prisoners at Auschwitz. Saying there is no basis for this assumption is categorically incorrect.

[–] kl-butler 10 years ago

Actually, you're incorrect. "Striped pajamas" were issued at most concentration camps, if prisoners were lucky enough to be given any clothes to wear at all. You'll find that most pictures from any concentration camp featured prisoners either naked or in "striped pajamas", Auschwitz or not.

[–] whatsthisnow 8 years ago

Doesn't really matter. If what you say is true, we still have no good reason to believe that the writer/director knew that.

[–] Nova_Scotia 12 years ago

It probably wasn't Auschwitz. American liberated other concentration camps

It's time to pay the piper. He's gonna reap what he sowed, and it sure ain't corn. Or wheat.

[–] ShadowAngelx 11 years ago

"inspired" is the word here.

In the movie it's made pretty clear that the concentration camp in question is Bergen-Belsen (in Lower Saxony, Germany). The russians never reached this place. That camp was liberated mostly by british (11th Armoured Division) and candian forces. There were also some american troops around.

[–] Cypherven 11 years ago

Roberto Benigni's father was a prisoner in Bergen-Belsen, this movie is inspired on his experiences there.

[–] Royalcourtier 10 years ago

Bergen Belsen was a work camp, as is the camp in the movie, not an extermination camp. So the camp could easily have been based on BB. However do not forget that this is a movie, not a documentary.

[–] davidmrenton 9 years ago

it was'nt Auschwitz hence the hills in the background, it was a fictional italian camp.Even the countryside at the end is very not Poland and much more Italian.

[–] bfred 9 years ago

how come they cut out the scenes with santa and the easter bunny? in this deplorable story.................pure dreck

[–] Zuider_Zee 11 years ago

This is not an American movie. This is an Italian movie. I am sorry but you've wasted your juvenile pent-up angst for naught.

[–] crakatoot 10 years ago

ur a very unhappy person arent u.

i told you not to stop the boat. Now lets go. Apocaylpse Now

[–] Airman87 10 years ago

This is not an American movie. This is an Italian movie. I am sorry but you've wasted your juvenile pent-up angst for naught.

Nailed it.

_______
When logic and science aren't on your side, you always lose.

[–] Royalcourtier 10 years ago

This camp was more likely much further south than Auschwitz. Of course there are so many factual and logical problems with the storyline, and it is after all fiction, that this discussion is rather pointless.

[–] DD-931 10 years ago

Gotta love how supporters of this film get upset about things like who liberated which camp, and blame Americans(!) for a supposed inaccuracy in the film...and yet when it's pointed out to them how unrealistic the overall film is, they claim, "It's just a film, it's not supposed to be about authenticity"!

And, of course, when this movie is praised, it is as an ITALIAN movie.

[–] 10 years ago

[deleted]

[–] EsmagaSapos 10 years ago

Are you kidding me? Don't you even realize that without the appearance of the Americans ...

(...) this movie wouldn't win a Oscar.

[–] ebida3 10 years ago

Why are you arguing a fictitious location? It is ALL the camps. It's the directors interpretation of a camp.
No where is this film claiming to be a documentary.

Critical observations should be limited to acting, screenplay, set decorations, etc. Not an idea in fiction.

[–] ancamg 10 years ago

I also thought it may be Auschwitz (look (train inside??) and tattoo number) , until I saw what looked like the Alps mountains in the background. It is either another particular camp listed above I don't know, but not Auschwitz. But it is true this is not the point of the movie. This was a symbol for what concentration camp were, and much more, it is about son and father relationship in all that crazy life.