'Vitus' tells the tale of a gifted boy whose biggest wish is to be normal.
Herald rating: * * *
Verdict: Touching, well-performed film about the burden of life for a child prodigy
Striking if slightly sentimental, this touching film about a child prodigy is held aloft by fantastic performances, particularly those from Borsani and Gheorgiu respectively as the title character at different ages, and the Swiss veteran Ganz, whose turn as Hitler in Downfall is the most celebrated of more
than 40 roles over five decades.
Vitus von Holzen is the gifted son of Leo (Jucker), an extreme inventor who has developed a revolutionary hearing aid, and Helen (Jenkins), who is as protective of her son as she is ambitious for him.
But the boy's biggest wish is to be normal, he tells his eccentric grandfather (Ganz) with whom he likes hanging out as the old man potters about in his shed.
The boy is the central character here and when he hits on a way of escaping the tyranny of his prodigious talents the drama takes an unexpected turn.
Director Murer has a habit of smothering the talent on show with some rather studied compositions and the ending is a trifle Disneyesque, but given what passes for family entertainment at the multiplex these days, this is a bit of a gem.
Cast: Teo Gheorghiu, Fabrizio Borsani, Julika Jenkins, Urs Jucker, Bruno Ganz, Kristina Lykowa, Tamara Scarpellini
Director: Fredi M. Murer
Running time: 120 mins
Rating: PG, low-level offensive language
Screening: Rialto Newmarket
