Rothstein, Edward. “ Using Farce to Break the Dark Spell of Fascism.” New York Times. 18 Oct 1998, AR28. ProQuest Historical Newspapers The New York Times (1851 - 2004). University of Pennslvania Library, Philadelphia. 4 April 2008 <http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=1&did=116548724&SrchMode=1&sid=10&Fmt=11&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=HNP&TS=1207804019&clientId=3748>

Fascism and humor are conflicting themes. Fascism is not just a serious topic, the word itself implies conformity under a law and it challenges personal liberties. Humor thrives on ridicule, vulnerability and the upending of authority, while turning what is most important into an absurdity. Edward Rothstein discusses the use of humor in the film Life is Beautiful. The film attempts to fight fascism with humor. The main character is a Jewish bookseller persistent in keeping the monstrosity of the Holocaust from his son. He turns the horrors of the time into a game for the boy. This fantasy is possible, in part because the film plays on the innocence of a child. Although humor may be the strongest opposition to fascism, downplaying fascism may also downplay the hardships faced by its victims.

Life is Beautiful can be nightmarish, yet also grotesquely outrageous. At times, the humor of the film outplays the seriousness of the topic, and the concentration camps appear less appalling. However the film manages to properly preserve the main character’s trying efforts in the face of death. Rothstein calls this terror in the company of humor a “death-haunted clowning”. The writer and director of Life is Beautiful, Roberto Benigni, had been largely influenced by Charlie Chaplin’s Great Dictator and Fellini’s Amarcord. Amarcord uses a similar style of the “death-haunted clowning”. He calls it clowing, because fascism is presented theatrically, like a circus, although not in a cheery light. Mr. Benigni relates it to the acts of the Italian clown Toto, whose presence brought laughter, even though he was certainly facing death in his acts.

Amarcord is something of a humorous, yet anti-fascist tale. Like Life is Beautiful, life under fascism is presented so theatrically, that it becomes ridiculous, almost to the point of humor. Although humor and fascism do not go hand in hand, Fellini was articulated humor, in order to take a jab at fascism’s absurdity. Fellini is not someone who holds any respect for fascist ideals, and he finds those ideals so fallacious, that they are comical.