1. Life is Beautiful Managing Across Cultures Group 5
Nathan Burger, Sharon Huestis, Laura Lu, Young Min Kim

2. Synopsis Guido travels to city, meeting Dora along the way
Works for his uncle as a waiter, and courts Dora by constantly surprising her
Marries Dora, has son Joshua and opens a book store
Taken to concentration camp
Entertains Joshua by turning the entire experience into a game
Saves Joshua’s life, but is killed shortly before Allies liberate camp
Joshua and Dora are reunited

3. Themes
Guido squeezes every last drop of enjoyment out of life, even while the world around him is in turmoil;
Italian and German racism as facts of life
(movie clip - engagement dinner scene)

4. Speech patterns Often creative and emotional Rapid, active style
Guido’s friend spouting poetry
Claims to be a prince when he meets the little girl and Dora
Conversations with Joshua
Rapid, active style
Guido’s uncle showing them the house
Meeting Dora for the first time (movie clip)

5. Hofstede Career success vs. quality of life
Individualism vs. collectivism
Power distance
Uncertainty avoidance

6. Career success vs quality of life
Italian culture emphasizes career success
Dora’s fiancé ignores her preferences
Guido values quality of life
Lives moment by moment, striving for that which makes him, or those around him, happy
Story-telling
Pursuit of Dora
Antics at the camp

7. Individualism vs collectivism
Elements of Italian culture seem collectivist
Dora’s engagement to the administrator
More evidence of individualism
Pursuit of Dora
Customer interaction while waiting tables
Elaborate charade with Joshua during incarceration

8. Power distance Italian culture is high power distance
Guido’s attempt to obtain a license for opening a bookstore
School principal introduces herself by title, rather than name
Dora’s fiancé defers to the prefect

9. Power Distance Guido ignores this norm
During his impersonation as the school inspector, tells Dora of his infatuation with her, while the principal is just a few feet away
Rides a horse into the engagement dinner to spirit Dora away
Interprets for a German officer, while knowing no German

10. Uncertainty avoidance
Extremely low for Guido
Impersonates school inspector
Misleads Dora into getting into wrong car
Takes son to see German children playing in the camp, solely to perpetuate the game
Pretends to be teaching German children Italian
Interprets for the German officer (movie clip)

11. Trompenaar Universalism vs. Particularism Neutral vs. Affective
Specific vs. Diffuse
No clear evidence from movie either way
Achievement vs. Ascription
Individualism vs. Communitarianism
Long- vs. Short-term

12. Universalism vs. Particularism
Guido exemplifies particularism
Expects German doctor to help him, based on prior relationship
Societal norms are not important to him – he does what seems appropriate given his circumstances and goals
Germans represent universalism
Soldier’s response to Dora’s wish to board train
Doctor’s unwillingness to help Guido

13. Neutral vs. Affective Italians very affective Vocal Dramatic
Guido does not hesitate to touch a woman to whom he has not been introduced
Italians exhibit significant body movement during conversation

14. Achievement vs. Ascription
Italians seem to belong to ascriptive society
Work obtained through connections
Dora expected to marry the administrator due to common backgrounds, although they possess different values
Guido’s “Jewishness” is ascribed, we do not see him practicing his faith – he considers himself Italian

15. Individualism vs. Communitarianism
Guido very individualistic
Italian culture seems to be more communitarian
Dora’s wedding appears to emphasize the status of her mother and her fiancé over her own happiness

16. Long- vs. Short-term Guido clearly focused on the short-term
Never concerned about long-term consequences
Spontaneous
Posing as the school inspector
“Kidnapping” Dora after the concert
Ruining the silk
Rescuing Dora from engagement party
Interpreting for the German officer

17. Triandis In-group vs Out-group
Those within a group share common interests and traits
Examples:
Race superiority - The in-group is better than the out-group
Holocaust - The out-group does not deserve to live “

18. Conclusion
Although “Life is Beautiful” is less about a clash of cultures, and more about one man’s outlook on life, we can gain some insight into the Italian and German cultures of the time, as well as Guido’s interaction with those cultures. Above all, the film challenges us to make the best of our lives, no matter what the circumstances.

19. Thank You!