LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Getting a boost from seven Oscar nominations, Italy's "Life is Beautiful" has become the highest-grossing foreign-language film ever in North America, earning nearly $21.9 million.
The story of a father who uses humor to shield his son from the horrors of a Nazi concentration camp, "Life is Beautiful" stars Roberto Benigni, who also directed and co-wrote the screenplay.Miramax expanded the film to wide release in 644 theaters for the four-day Presidents Day weekend. The film grossed more than $2.8 million over the holiday weekend, its 17th week in release in North America.
The previous record-holder was "Il Postino," a 1996 best-picture nominee also distributed by Miramax, that grossed $21.8 million. The dollars are not adjusted for inflation or rises in ticket prices.
"The success of 'Life is Beautiful' is unprecedented, and it's still going strong," Miramax co-Chairman Harvey Weinstein said in a statement.
"Life is Beautiful" received a major push from last week's Oscar nominations. The film was nominated for both best picture and best foreign-language film. In addition, Benigni was nominated for best actor and director and shared an original screenplay nomination with co-writer Vincenzo Cerami. Other nominations went for editing and dramatic score.
Benigni became the fourth person in the history of the Oscars to be nominated for actor, director and screenwriting for a single film, joining Orson Welles for "Citizen Kane," Woody Allen for "Annie Hall" and Warren Beatty for "Reds."
The success of "Life is Beautiful" follows a trend in foreign-language films, with audiences and the Academy responding most to heart-tugging tales that often involve children.