Robert Benigni to make Iraq war comedy

Message Bookmarked

Bookmark Removed

La Tigre e la Neve (The Tiger and the Snow) is set in Iraq in March 2003 - right at the beginning of the US-led campaign.

In spite of the subject matter, Oscar-winner Benigni intends the film - which is due for release in 2005 - to be a comedy.

Benigni plays the part of a poet who is in Iraq by chance and is caught up in the events.

"War naturally is the background of the film and my character is directly involved in it after this poet ends up in Iraq by pure chance," Benigni told Italian Rai radio.

Benigni hopes audiences around the world will be able to identify with his character.

"What is extraordinary is his vision of the world. This is one person representing all the people in the world," he said.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 30 September 2004 14:54 (twenty-one years ago)

I wish someone would fucking shoot that goddamned guido Robin Williams and get it over with already.

― Allyzay Science Explosion (allyzay), Thursday, 30 September 2004 15:00 (twenty-one years ago)

I KISSA YOU FACE! THAT'S-A SPICY-A MEATBOLL! I GOT-A DA SHRAPNEL IN MY LEG, AY YI YI!

― n/a (Nick A.), Thursday, 30 September 2004 15:01 (twenty-one years ago)

between the continued existance of Roberto Benigni and the popularity of the film Amelie, I'm pretty sure there is an enormous, vast, horrifying reserve of secret indie guilt about having to suppress an urge to make fun of the Special Olympics.

― Allyzay Science Explosion (allyzay), Thursday, 30 September 2004 15:06 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm reading the thread title, but my brain just can't process the words.

― Pashmina (Pashmina), Thursday, 30 September 2004 15:08 (twenty-one years ago)

How the hell does a poet end up in Iraq "by chance?"

― jocelyn (Jocelyn), Thursday, 30 September 2004 15:09 (twenty-one years ago)

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

― Archel (Archel), Thursday, 30 September 2004 15:10 (twenty-one years ago)

In 1930s Italy, a carefree Jewish book keeper named Guido starts a fairy tale life by courting and marrying a lovely woman from a nearby city. Guido and his wife have a son and live happily together until the occupation of Italy by German forces. In an attempt to hold his family together and help his son survive the horrors of a Jewish Concentration Camp, Guido imagines that the Holocaust is a game and that the grand prize for winning is a tank.

― Allyzay Science Explosion (allyzay), Thursday, 30 September 2004 15:10 (twenty-one years ago)

Schindler should've given everyone tanks at the end of that movie. And been an Italian poet living in Iraq by accident.

― Allyzay Science Explosion (allyzay), Thursday, 30 September 2004 15:12 (twenty-one years ago)

SCREENSHOT FROM LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL:

http://ssbm.detstar.com/screengallery/mario_peach_toad.jpg

― Allyzay Science Explosion (allyzay), Thursday, 30 September 2004 15:14 (twenty-one years ago)

wow I really think I hate Roberto Benigni more than I hate any one else in the entire world.

― Allyzay Science Explosion (allyzay), Thursday, 30 September 2004 15:15 (twenty-one years ago)

Ned, you seriously ruined my day.

― Allyzay Science Explosion (allyzay), Thursday, 30 September 2004 15:15 (twenty-one years ago)

Haven't the Iraqis suffered enough?

― Michael White (Hereward), Thursday, 30 September 2004 15:16 (twenty-one years ago)

I hated Life is Beautiful and everyone thought I was a fucking Nazi because of this. "How can you hate it, it's so heartwarming." Um, my mom's grandparents were raped and murdered by the Nazis, okay? Now go warm your heart in Treblinka.

― jocelyn (Jocelyn), Thursday, 30 September 2004 15:17 (twenty-one years ago)

Actually, the beheading scene is supposedly masterful.

― briania (briania), Thursday, 30 September 2004 15:18 (twenty-one years ago)

Yeah, it's heartwarming if you like crap.

― Allyzay Science Explosion (allyzay), Thursday, 30 September 2004 15:18 (twenty-one years ago)

pants-warming

― You've Got to Pick Up Every Stitch (tracerhand), Thursday, 30 September 2004 15:19 (twenty-one years ago)

Well, I got heartburn I think. Does that count?

― Archel (Archel), Thursday, 30 September 2004 15:20 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm pretty sure there is an enormous, vast, horrifying reserve of secret indie guilt about having to suppress an urge to make fun of the Special Olympics.

― g--ff (gcannon), Thursday, 30 September 2004 15:22 (twenty-one years ago)

maybe someone can make a movie about the Bataan Death March and call it "Treasure Every Moment"

― You've Got to Pick Up Every Stitch (tracerhand), Thursday, 30 September 2004 15:24 (twenty-one years ago)

I see thread titles like these and pray that they're jokes.

― Bruce S. Urquhart (BanjoMania), Thursday, 30 September 2004 15:25 (twenty-one years ago)

I hear Roberto Benigni is going to start an extensive series of films based on the deaths of everyone's grandmothers and pets, one by one.

― n/a (Nick A.), Thursday, 30 September 2004 15:26 (twenty-one years ago)

The trailer for his version of Pinocchio was one of the most frightening things I have ever watched.

― jocelyn (Jocelyn), Thursday, 30 September 2004 15:28 (twenty-one years ago)

No, I think he thinks this movie will cover them all.

― Vinnie (vprabhu), Thursday, 30 September 2004 15:29 (twenty-one years ago)

If I'm ever kidnapped in Iraq, instead of pleading for my life on the videotape (since I'm fucked anyway), I'm just going to start yelling "I SCREAM, YOU SCREAM, WE ALL SCREAM FOR ICE CREAM" over and over.

― Pleasant Plains (Pleasant Plains), Thursday, 30 September 2004 15:36 (twenty-one years ago)

I was going to make a joke about Roberto Benigni starring as Tsar Nicholas and then remembered Disney already made that.

― Allyzay Science Explosion (allyzay), Thursday, 30 September 2004 15:41 (twenty-one years ago)

Roberto is Disco

― Loose Translation: Sexy Dancer (sexyDancer), Thursday, 30 September 2004 15:41 (twenty-one years ago)

No, Roberto is the Pina Colada Song

― Allyzay Science Explosion (allyzay), Thursday, 30 September 2004 15:42 (twenty-one years ago)

MUSAB AL ZARQAWI (John Lurie): [stares balefully]

AMADEO DIOTTALEVI (Roberto Begnini): [blindfolded] [begins softshoe routine]

MUSAB AL ZARQAWI: [laughs uproariously]

― g--ff (gcannon), Thursday, 30 September 2004 15:42 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh wow, if this movie was like Down By Law I would go see it. Tom Waits and Screamin' Jay Hawkins need to be in this shit, that's for sure.

― n/a (Nick A.), Thursday, 30 September 2004 15:43 (twenty-one years ago)

i wouldn't even have a problem with any of these things being made into comedies if Roberto Benigni showed one single sign of having any idea what the hell comedy is.

― Allyzay Science Explosion (allyzay), Thursday, 30 September 2004 15:47 (twenty-one years ago)

I like both Amelie and Life is Beautiful! Ally is a no feeling roboto!!!!!!

― bnw (bnw), Thursday, 30 September 2004 15:54 (twenty-one years ago)

She likes Germans too!

― bnw (bnw), Thursday, 30 September 2004 15:55 (twenty-one years ago)

BNW LIKES TO MAKE FUN OF RETARDS SECRETLY

― Allyzay Hitler Explosion (allyzay), Thursday, 30 September 2004 15:56 (twenty-one years ago)

leave the noize dudes out of this! (ha, i kid)

― bnw (bnw), Thursday, 30 September 2004 15:59 (twenty-one years ago)

oh you went there.

― Allyzay Science Explosion (allyzay), Thursday, 30 September 2004 16:00 (twenty-one years ago)

but it's a secret, they will never know. I guess I ruined this thread.

― bnw (bnw), Thursday, 30 September 2004 16:02 (twenty-one years ago)

That's a feat!

― Dan Perry '08 (Dan Perry), Thursday, 30 September 2004 16:08 (twenty-one years ago)

Allyzay is the hero of this thread.

― latebloomer (latebloomer), Thursday, 30 September 2004 16:10 (twenty-one years ago)

La Tigre e la Neve (The Tiger and the Snow) is set in Iraq in March 2003

http://www.grrl.com/letigretitle.jpg

http://ia.imdb.com/media/imdb/01/I/01/23/48m.jpg

― Je4nne ƒury (Jeanne Fury), Thursday, 30 September 2004 16:17 (twenty-one years ago)

I hope he is in Pinocchio character for this movie. that would rule. His Pinocchio is special secret number one stoner movie of all time. It is psychedelia par excellance.

― scott seward (scott seward), Thursday, 30 September 2004 16:17 (twenty-one years ago)

Celebrity liberals of the Academy will nominate it; it will win; and we'll have to see him do another acceptance speech! Culture will implode.

― andy, Thursday, 30 September 2004 17:13 (twenty-one years ago)

Roberto Benigni, hat of ass.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Thursday, 30 September 2004 17:14 (twenty-one years ago)

Operation Enduring Hilarity.

― Nemo (JND), Thursday, 30 September 2004 17:15 (twenty-one years ago)

what the hell is this thread about? oh that bastard smiley guy

― kephm (kephm), Thursday, 30 September 2004 17:20 (twenty-one years ago)

wow, I was really angry upthread. I have to stop listening to the news early in the morning.

― jocelyn (Jocelyn), Thursday, 30 September 2004 17:24 (twenty-one years ago)

OMG LE TIGRE AND NEVE

― Professor Challenger (ex machina), Thursday, 30 September 2004 17:28 (twenty-one years ago)

I havent been more disturbed since I heard Joaquin Phoenix was to play Johnny Cash

― Michael B, Thursday, 30 September 2004 17:35 (twenty-one years ago)

Can't wait for some sort of outraged "Benigni crawls over bodies of dead US soldiers to get another Oscar" headline.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 30 September 2004 17:39 (twenty-one years ago)

Benigni's next film is going to involve madcap skullfucking.

― Dan Perry '08 (Dan Perry), Thursday, 30 September 2004 17:42 (twenty-one years ago)

I'd like to suggest that they film this on location in Iraq.

― Nemo (JND), Thursday, 30 September 2004 17:44 (twenty-one years ago)

i was once stuck in an elevator with two suited guys

guy#1: "did you do anything this weekend?"
guy#2: "i saw life is beautiful."
guy#1: "yeah? that movie [breathy sounds simulating tongue-tied awe]...wow...just...y'know?"
guy#2: "yeah, it's just so--"
guy#1: "--beautiful."
guy#2: "yeah."

― amateur!!!st (amateurist), Thursday, 30 September 2004 18:32 (twenty-one years ago)

'd like to suggest that they film this on location in Iraq.

-- Nemo (jdevereux...) (webmail), September 30th, 2004 1:44 PM. (JND) (later) (link)

benigni's next film: live in an undisclosed location with ayman al-zawahiri

― amateur!!!st (amateurist), Thursday, 30 September 2004 18:33 (twenty-one years ago)

(actually i sometimes wonder if benigni's current career is some kind of sick joke at the expense of "feel-good" values.)

― amateur!!!st (amateurist), Thursday, 30 September 2004 18:34 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm so glad you said that, now at least, even if it's only in my tainted imagination, will there be some reason for Roberto Benigni continued asshatery.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Thursday, 30 September 2004 18:59 (twenty-one years ago)

Sems like kind've a career killer, no?

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 30 September 2004 20:47 (twenty-one years ago)

I thought "Pinnochio" was the career killer.

― n/a (Nick A.), Thursday, 30 September 2004 20:47 (twenty-one years ago)

I thought the fact that he is Roberto Fucking Benigni would be a career killer, but no.

― Allyzay Science Explosion (allyzay), Thursday, 30 September 2004 23:33 (twenty-one years ago)

Did I in fact ruin your day?

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 30 September 2004 23:34 (twenty-one years ago)

THINGS THAT HAPPENED TODAY, A LIST:

1) MY ROUTER WAS ACTING TEH GHEY BUT I FIXED IT AND WAS HAPPY
2) ROBERTO BENIGNI MAKES IRAQ WAR COMEDY AND I WAS SO SAD AND IT NEVER GOT BETTER
3) POST OFFICE HAD LONG LINE AND I WAS SAD BECAUSE I HAD TO THINK ABOUT ROBERTO BENIGNI FOR A WHILE
4) I MISSED MY CLASS WHICH IS TAUGHT BY NOT ROBERTO BENIGNI BUT SOME KIND OF ALAN RICKMAN PERSON
5) I MET WITH MY ADVISOR AND SHE INFORMED ME THAT, POSSIBLY BECAUSE OF ROBERTO BENIGNI, I AM HAVING 4 TRANSFER CREDITS STRIKEN FROM MY RECORD AND WILL HAVE TO TAKE MORE CLASSES THAN I THOUGHT NEXT SEMESTER ELSE NO GRADUATION
6) I HEARD A GIRL SAY TO A BOY "I'M SO GLAD I BECAME A VIRGIN AGAIN" AND I COULD ONLY THINK "LIFE IS NOT BEAUTIFUL AT ALL"

YES NED IT IS YOUR FAULT ENTIRELY.

― Allyzay Science Explosion (allyzay), Thursday, 30 September 2004 23:38 (twenty-one years ago)

D'oh.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 30 September 2004 23:47 (twenty-one years ago)

>>I HEARD A GIRL SAY TO A BOY "I'M SO GLAD I BECAME A VIRGIN AGAIN" AND I COULD ONLY THINK "LIFE IS NOT BEAUTIFUL AT ALL"

Yeah, really. That operation's gotta hurt.

― Rickey Wright (Rrrickey), Friday, 1 October 2004 00:06 (twenty-one years ago)

i'm with you re. benigni, ally. i lived with an italian for six months and he and his italian friends adored benigni. national pride or someting, i guess. if benigni was american i'd be embarrassed. hell, i'm embarrassed anyway.

― amateur!!!st (amateurist), Friday, 1 October 2004 04:02 (twenty-one years ago)

ts: life is beautiful vs. the day the clown cried

― amateur!!!st (amateurist), Friday, 1 October 2004 04:03 (twenty-one years ago)

(just the *idea* of that last film makes me want to blow up the earth.)

― amateur!!!st (amateurist), Friday, 1 October 2004 04:04 (twenty-one years ago)

And you said you didn't get my sense of humor!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 1 October 2004 04:12 (twenty-one years ago)

i did?

― amateur!!!st (amateurist), Friday, 1 October 2004 04:20 (twenty-one years ago)

do you know the story of that film? i can hardly even bear to relate it.

― amateur!!!st (amateurist), Friday, 1 October 2004 04:21 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh I know all right. I've even read the script. I can't imagine what it actually looks like.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 1 October 2004 04:23 (twenty-one years ago)

David Thomson's gonna go looper.

― naked as sin (naked as sin), Friday, 1 October 2004 09:19 (twenty-one years ago)

Uno, duo, tre, quatro

When I was a boy just about the eight-a grade
Mama used to say, "Don't stay out-a late
With the bad-a boys, always shoot-a pool
Giuseppe going to flunk-a school"

/ E6 E E6 E / / B7 - - - / 1st /

Boy it make-a me sick, all the t'ing I gotta do
I can't-a-get-a no kicks, I always go to follow rules
Boy, it make-a me sick, just to make-a lousy bucks
Got to feelin' like a fool
And-a mama used to say all-a time

{Refrain}
What's-a matter you, hey, gotta no respect
What-a you t'ink you do, why you look-a so sad
It's-a not so bad, it's-a nice-a place
Ah, shaddap you face

That's-a my mama, I can remember

Soon-a come a day gonna be a big-a star
Den I make-a TV shows and-a movies, get-a myself a new car
But still I be myself, I don't want-a to change a t'ing
Still a-dance and a-sing
I t'ink about-a mama, she used to say

{Refrain twice}

― Jedermann sein eigener Fussball (Dada), Friday, 1 October 2004 09:22 (twenty-one years ago)

i lived with an italian for six months and he and his italian friends adored benigni. national pride or someting

The average Italian's love of Benigni isn't really for his movies, but rather because he's the most vocal opponent of Silvio Berlusconi. Kind of like JohnKerryIsADouchebagButImVotingForHimAnyway.com

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Friday, 1 October 2004 12:05 (twenty-one years ago)

Is he indeed? Hey, better him than nothing, then.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 1 October 2004 13:07 (twenty-one years ago)

Two dreariest facts about "Shaddap You Face":

1. It kept "Vienna" off number one!

2. Joe Dolce considers it an ironic performance art statement.

― Marcello Carlin, Friday, 1 October 2004 13:38 (twenty-one years ago)

I really like "Down By Law" though.

― n/a (Nick A.), Friday, 1 October 2004 13:55 (twenty-one years ago)

I liked Benigni in the first scene in Coffee and Cigarettes.

― Hurting (Hurting), Friday, 1 October 2004 14:21 (twenty-one years ago)

3. Joe Dolce considers himself a pioneer of World Music - which is rubbish because we all know it's Rolf Harris who is the pioneer

― Didoismus (Dada), Friday, 1 October 2004 14:51 (twenty-one years ago)

I like Benignis with powdered sugar and coffee.

― Paul Ess (Paul Ess), Friday, 1 October 2004 14:53 (twenty-one years ago)

eight months pass...

Oh good god, according to the IMDB page, Jean Reno is in this thing. Playing one 'Fuad.' DUDE GET OUT NOW, WHILE YOU CAN, RUNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN. (Except they already finished filming, oh dear.)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 13 June 2005 14:59 (twenty years ago)

And the Pink Panther film, and The Da Vinci Code. I'm tempted to ask if he's been in anything good in the last ten year, but then someone will claim that Ronin isn't rubbish, and I'll want to headbutt my monitor some more.

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Monday, 13 June 2005 15:24 (twenty years ago)

I suppose you could argue the French language dub of Porco Rosso but I have no idea when that was exactly.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 13 June 2005 15:27 (twenty years ago)

What the hell is wrong with you people? I saw the phrase "Iraq war comedy" and started laughing uncontrollably, before I even clicked on the thread? Are you all freepers now or something?

Allyzay what exactly is wrong with Amelie, aside from it being popular? Same for Life Is Beautiful, isn't it ROCKIST to hate something simply because it is sentimental + popular?

― Richard K (Richard K), Monday, 13 June 2005 16:09 (twenty years ago)

Richard, my friend, there is *plenty* of scope for a blackly humorous Iraq war comedy. I strongly suspect there is none when it involves Benigni.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 13 June 2005 16:23 (twenty years ago)

"three kings"

― cozen (Cozen), Monday, 13 June 2005 16:34 (twenty years ago)

Yes, but a new one, Mr. Cozen.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 13 June 2005 16:35 (twenty years ago)

I heard specs are being drawn for the followup Benigni hit, Le Plus Grand Petit Bordel Dans Rwanda,

― donut e-goon (donut), Monday, 13 June 2005 16:44 (twenty years ago)

Then after that, Le Hitchhiker Du Tsunami

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 13 June 2005 16:46 (twenty years ago)

maybe someone can make a movie about the Bataan Death March and call it "Treasure Every Moment"

HAHAHAHA

― ath (ath), Monday, 13 June 2005 16:52 (twenty years ago)

Allyzay is heroically OTM on this thread.

― latebloomer: Pain Don't Hurt (latebloomer), Monday, 13 June 2005 16:56 (twenty years ago)

That she is.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 13 June 2005 17:17 (twenty years ago)

four years pass...

This explains everything...wait, no it doesn't:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vakdBaiGK-Y

― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 31 December 2009 17:43 (sixteen years ago)

You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.