An important key message that the main character Guido illustrates in the film Life is Beautiful, directed by Roberto Begnini, is how the desire to protect loved ones can overshadow one's fear, which is illustrated through Guido's qualities of quick thinking, sacrificial love and braveness. His quality of having a quick thinking is portrayed when he translates the rules of the concentration camp through the use of dialogue, his quality of sacrificial love is portrayed in the scene when he gives Dora a message of hope over the loudspeaker through the visual technique of lighting and his quality of being brave is portrayed in the scene when he is caught searching for his wife through the visual technique of colour.
Firstly, Begnini uses the verbal technique of dialogue to illustrate the key message of how the desire to protect loved one's can overshadow one's fear in the scene when Guido uses his quick wit and thinking to translate the concentration camp rules. Guido translates: "You have to score one thousand points. If you do that, you take home a tank with a big gun" which shows how Guido is willing to overcome his fear and put himself in a vulnerable position and risk his life to protect Joshua's innocence. He also says, "Forget about it!" in a loud voice and the officer slowly turns to face him which makes the audience feel anxious and worry that he might be caught for not translating correctly. It also shows how Guido is willing to overcome his fear and put himself in a vulnerable position and risk his life to protect Joshua's innocence. This is combined with the visual technique of lighting and costume to illustrate the key message of how the desire to protect loved ones can overshadow one's fear. The lighting in this scene is dark which manipulates the viewers to feel depressed and sad however there is a sliver of light that is focused on Guido. This shows how Guido overcomes his fear to bring light to dark situations and is a representation of his optimism and the hope that Guido is instilling in Joshua so that he can protect his son's innocence.