Sir, - Tom Hughes's sanctimonious denunciation of Life is Beautiful (April 6th) is misguided. The most remarkable aspect of Primo Levi's account of his experiences in Auschwitz was the humour he somehow contrived to find in the most appalling circumstances. It shines out of every page.
While watching the film, the thought struck me again and again that Beningi's inspiration had to be Levi and how proud the latter would have been to see one of his fellow countrymen approach such horror in so creative a manner.
The shame felt by survivors of the Holocaust bears no relation to the story behind Life is Beautiful, which seeks only to bring light into one of the darkest corners of the past millennium. - Yours, etc., John O'Mahony,
Strand Road, Dublin 4.