It’s a Wonderful Life is the most appreciated and much loved American inspirational films of all time. The film is a Christmas classic which shot to popularity with its repeated telecast on television during the festive season. The film’s success can be credited to its inventiveness, humor and affection for human beings.

The film is set in the fictional town of Bedford Falls and is a dark look at the small town American life between the two world wars depicting the class envy and fears of modernity. The story revolves around the character of George Bailey played by James Stewart whose life seems so hopeless that he contemplates suicide on the eve of Christmas. He lives his life helping others and is forced to sacrifice his pleasures as he does so. As he prepares to jump from the bridge, his Guardian Angel interrupts and saves his life by showing him the picture of life without him as a part of it.

The film, narrated through a series of flashbacks, demonstrates how George touches the lives of others and the difference he makes to the community he resides in. When shown by the Angel, George realizes his life as wonderful and truly rich, even though he was made to sacrifice his dreams of youth apart from other losses, dismay, hardships and fateful trials. This fills him with encouragement and revived enthusiasm and averts him from committing suicide.

The film is a bitter-sweet tale of life’s struggles and displays an optimistic and facile pattern of solving problems. It highlights the little gems in life that make life pleasant and livable. There are sentimental moments in the film which have been captured efficiently although it seems lengthy and a little dragged at certain places. The values portrayed in the film still hold true today. It also witnesses an outstanding performance by Barrymore in the villainous role.

The film makes an impact by nudging us to live a good life and is a very pleasant and optimistic take on the struggle called life.