A “New York Post” critic declared that “Tiger and the Snow” may be the worst film of the year, and he called its writer/director/star, Roberto Benigni, “the most annoying man in show business.”  A “Slant” critic wrote, “ “The Tiger and the Snow” is another objectionable comedy by Roberto Benigni, a conman who treats war as a comedic background.” 

Humor is highly subjective, and one person’s medicine is another person’s candy. These are the only explanations I can think of for the shockingly scathing reviews of “The Tiger and the Snow,” which is actually one of the better comedies in many months (although it doesn’t break as much new ground as last year’s “Borat”). 

I think that some viewers just object to the film on principle because they don’t think a comedy should be set in a war torn country. But ultimately the test of a comedy is whether it is funny, and “The Tiger and the Snow” may be Benigni’s most amusing comedy since “Life is Beautiful.” 

Chicago viewers will soon get the chance to judge the film for themselves. The film will screen at the Gene Siskel Center on Sunday, March 25, 3:00 pm and Wednesday, March 28, 8:15 pm as part of the European film festival. 

The film stars the frequently controversial Roberto Benigni, one of the top funnymen in Italy. 

 Many American viewers first were exposed to Benigni in Jim Jarmusch’s Indy classic, “Down by Law.” Benigni alludes to the film by including a great musical performance by Tom Waits, his “Down by Law” co-star. The Waits number, “You Can’t Hold Back Spring” underscores the theme of the film.  It occurs during an oddly fascinating dream sequence in which Benigni’s character gets married to a character, played by his real-life wife, while wearing only his underwear. 

Of course, Bengini also won an Oscar for the WWII comedy “Life is Beautiful,” ironically beating out Jim Carrey (another Jerry Lewis influenced comedian) who was nominated for one of his best serious roles. Benigni’s follow-up picture, “Pinocchio” was actually quite entertaining, but it was butchered and atrociously dubbed by Miramax, in one of the worst recent hack jobs by a studio since “Once Upon a Time in America.” 

In “The Tiger and the Snow” Benigni plays Attilio, a passionate and energetic poet/poetry professor who is great with words. Roberto Benigni reputedly named his character "Attilio" as homage to Attilio Bertolucci, the poet who was the father of great filmmaker, Bernardo (“The Conformist”) Bertolucci. 

Attilio is completely smitten with Vittoria (played by his real wife, Nicoletta Braschi), who of course wants nothing to do with him. He tries to woo her, but she rejects him repeatedly. As it turns out she is writing a book on a famous Iraqi poet (played by the fine French actor Jean Reno). When she goes with him to Baghdad, she is caught in an explosion. 

She is hurt badly, and Attilio cons his way into the country by pretending to be a Red Cross member.  During most of the rest of the film he fights a desperate struggle to keep her alive, even after the doctor has given up on her.  He tries to find the medicine that will cure her. Along the way Attilio encounters different obstacles and the film has many gags related to the terrain similar to the ones in the old Bob Hope/Bing Crosby travel films. 

Like “Life is Beautiful,” “The Tiger and the Snow” encourages viewers (like the poet) to look for the beauty in all things. While this comedy may seem unsophisticated or opportunistic, to some, the film has a primitive purity, beauty, and healing power that has rarely been in evidence in any comedic films made after the 20s.  It’s a worthy successor to both “Life is Beautiful” and Charlie Chaplin’s “The Great Dictator.”