Twas a movie filled weekend: Ratatouille on Friday, La Vi En Rose on Saturday, and Vitus on Sunday. Vitus is a Swiss film (english subtitled) that makes me wish that it's based on a true story--it successfully casts real life child piano prodigy Teo Gheorghiu in the role of Vitus, a piano prodigy and child genius--because it's an incredibly uplifting film. As expected, his parents, especially his mother are exactly the sort of parents popular culture depicts child prodigy's parents to be: Pushy and overly-protective. In sharp contrast, Vitus's grandfather--his best friend and confidante--engages and challenges his grandson's enormous intellect, atypical talent and limitless curiosity in an underhanded way that nonetheless appears to be a more effective manner in helping Vitus come to terms with and embrace his inner genius and wunderkind.
The casting of Teo in the lead role is a wondeful opportunity where his actual piano virtuosity allows the director to frame the entire shot without being forced to utilize the traditional cheap "trick" of zooming in close on the hands that clearly belong to an actual musician and not the actor. As a result I found myself drawn deeper into the story and film. And the kid is a pretty decent actor to boot.
Four stars out of five. Who knew the Swiss can make more than peace and good chocolate?