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Rodolfo is the overarching antagonist in the italian movie La Vita è Bella (Life is Beautiful).
He is the love rival of Guido and a italian Fascist bureaucrat in 1939.
He is played by Amerigo Fontani.
Biography[]
Rodolfo is a fascist bureaucrat living in Arezzo, Italy, in the late 1930s. Arrogant and self-important, he represents the rising tide of fascism in pre-war Italy. He first encounters Guido Orefice, a cheerful and imaginative Jewish man, during a comical altercation at the town hall, where the two exchange insults and end up calling each other “egghead” after Guido breaks eggs in Rodolfo’s hat. Their rivalry intensifies when Guido discovers that Rodolfo is engaged to Dora, a kind-hearted schoolteacher whom Guido falls in love with.
Despite his apparent social status and alignment with the ruling fascist ideology, Rodolfo is ultimately portrayed as insecure and rigid, clinging to traditional authority while lacking emotional connection. Dora, pressured by her family into the engagement, never truly loves him. Her feelings shift completely when Guido wins her heart with charm and wit. On the night of their engagement celebration at the Grand Hotel, Dora abandons Rodolfo and leaves with Guido, an act that humiliates Rodolfo in front of the guests.
Rodolfo's character embodies the oppressive social system of the time, which values obedience over love and conformity over individuality. While he doesn't reappear after Dora leaves him, his role is crucial in the first part of the story as both a symbol of authoritarian power and a direct obstacle to Guido’s pursuit of happiness.
Trivia[]
Guido Orefice - Heroes Wiki