1. Who Is Schopenhauer? How Do His Ideas Influence Guido's Life and His Choices?

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Life Is Beautiful Day 2

Just like yesterday, you may answer the first set of questions as you watch or for homework.

1. Who is Schopenhauer? How do his ideas influence Guido's life and his choices?

2. What is the significance of Guido and Dora escaping the engagement party on the "Jewish horse"?

3. After Joshua enters the story, what changes do you notice in the city?

4. Why doesn't the Nazi want Dora to get on the train? Why isn't she on the list?

5. How does the lighting, use of color, and music change once they are taken by the Nazis? What happens to Guido's behavior?

6. What does Guido tell Joshua the prize for winning the game is?

7. What are the three things he can lose points for?

8. What do you think the other men go along with Guido's game? Do they get anything out of the ruse?

9. Where is Dr. Lessing from? What is his job now?

10. What happens between Dr. Lessing and Guido? What does Guido think is going to happen in their conversation? How does this give a kind of humanity to the people who committed these terrible acts in the concentration camps and death camps?

Answer these questions on your own at home. They will require longer answers and more thinking on your part. For these questions, you will reflect on the story and characters as a whole.

11. What is it about Guido that gives him the strength to keep fighting and keep believing? Is it just his wife and son?

12. Think about Guido's final moments. He is caught and led away by a German soldier. He knows his fate. What do you think about the way he chooses to say goodbye to Joshua? What other choices did he have?

13. Why do you think the movie is called "Life Is Beautiful"? What is both ugly and beautiful about this story? Consider the quote at the beginning, "This is a simple story, but not an easy one to tell. Like a fable there is sorrow, and, like a fable it is full of wonder and happiness." Where do you see evidence of these parts of life in the story?

14. What is the gift Guido gives his son? How do you think you might reflect on the past as adult Joshua?