How we cite our quotes: All quotations are from Life Is Beautiful.
Quote #7
GUIDO: Anybody here? Am I disturbing? Joshua, come here. Quick as lightening. [into the speaker system]: Good morning, Princess. Last night, I dreamt about you all night. We were going to the movies. You were wearing that pink suit that I really like. You're all I think about, Princess. I always think about you. And now—
JOSHUA [over the loudspeaker]: Momma! Pop wheels me in the wheelbarrow, but he doesn't know how to drive! We laugh like crazy! We're in the lead! How many points do we have today?
Yeah, we were screaming at the screen when we saw this scene, too. We mean, it's not like the Nazis would hear that and think, "Well, that's weird. Hey Franz, is it bring-your-kid-to-work-in-a-wheelbarrow day?" No, they'd turn that camp upside down looking for Joshua.
But let's remember that this story contains fable-like elements to it. The point here is to show the power of love to uplift Dora's spirits, and its use as a weapon against tyranny. So it gets a pass thematically, if not realistically.
Quote #8
GUIDO [running after a truck]: Is there a Dora here? She's Italian. She's my wife.
JEWISH WOMAN: Yes, there's a Dora here.
GUIDO: It's me, Dora. It's not her! Is there another Dora? Jump out of the truck as soon as you can! Get off! Jump out!
Guido learns from Bartolomeo that the Nazis, knowing the American forces are getting closer, plan to destroy the evidence of their genocide. To protect Dora, he infiltrates the woman's side of the camp to rescue her in another extraordinary act of love. This time, it doesn't pay off. Guido's luck runs out, and he's discovered and dragged off and shot by a Nazi guard.
Quote #9
NARRATOR: This is my story. This is the sacrifice my father made. This was his gift to me.
We learn that Joshua is the narrator, all grown up and looking back on his childhood. As a boy, he couldn't have understood the sacrifice his father made. As a man (and maybe a father himself), he gets it. And if you ask us, that's just a pitch perfect ending for both the film and this theme.