Life Is Beautiful?

The lasting impression I got from this movie was of Guido's death. The way it was carried out did not give him an emotional death scene, it didn't elongate it or attach any particular meaning to it, like deaths of heroes usually are. Guido was killed off in a couple of seconds, just like any other Jew who died there. The only thing he cared about upon dying was that his son was safe and that his innocence was preserved. "That was the sacrifice my father made for me." And I believe that this death was carried out in such a non-heroic way because Guido wasn't supposed to be a hero, not to anyone except for his son. And to his son, only posthumously.

As for the connection to Man's Search For Meaning, I find much in some aspects, but almost none in others. There was very little emphasis on suffering, and the three stages that Frankl describes are not seen at all. However, Frankl does say that everyone put in a concentration camp has a choice. They can either retreat into themselves, or they can be selfless, retain their morals and reach spiritual heights. On top of that. people do not lose the desire to keep living if they have someone to live for. Guido obviously had a very good reason; his only goal, the only thing he cared about was his son.