The premise is deceptively simple. Saverio (Roberto Benigni) and Mario (Massimo Troisi) are two elementary school teachers in a nondescript Italian village. Saverio is a hyperactive, neurotic intellectual who believes he has failed as a pedagogue. Mario is a cynical, lazy realist who just wants a quiet life.
What makes the a cult phenomenon is its subversion of the time-travel genre. In Hollywood, a visitor from the future would use knowledge of science to save the world. In Benigni and Troisi's world, their knowledge is exclusively useless. Non Ci Resta Che Piangere Film
Their primary goal becomes traveling to Spain to stop Christopher Columbus from discovering America. Saverio hopes this will prevent his sister’s future heartbreak caused by an American soldier. The premise is deceptively simple
In a famous scene, they attempt to explain modern inventions like the thermometer , light bulb , and trains to Leonardo da Vinci , though he remains mostly unimpressed. Mario is a cynical, lazy realist who just wants a quiet life