Our Top Five Movie Dads

2. Guido Orefice, Roberto Benigni, Life Is Beautiful

Yes, I know: the ending. That scene. One of the most emotional scenes in cinematic history. Roberto Benign’s Guido Orefice is the ultimate selfless dad, preserving his young son’s innocence in the face of the holocaust – even as he’s been marched to his execution.

Guido is a figure of strength for the movie’s duration, clinging to what little control he had over his – and his boy’s – fate. A silver lining? Joshua would have grown into a stronger man for it. 

Now I can’t get that scene out of my head.

You are such a good boy. You sleep now. Dream sweet dreams. Maybe we are both dreaming. Maybe this is all a dream, and in the morning, Mommy will wake us up with milk and cookies. Then, after we eat, I will make love to her two or three times. If I can.

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