0ur opinion:Item Description:Vitus is the story of a child prodigy who has everything he wants except the chance to be a normal kid. At six, Vitus is both incredibly talented and wonderfully precocious. When it becomes evident that he has an exceptionally high lQ and can play piano like a young Mozart, expectations run high. His parents love him, his grandfather understands him, but no one knows the truth that his real genius is in his heart.
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Vitus, a boy's extraordinary talent makes his life unbearable--until he applies his brilliance to the problem of normalcy. Vitus (played at 12 by actual piano prodigy Teo Gheorghiu), a boy obsessed with bats and the piano, reveals high intelligence and musical intuition in his childhood; his mother Helen sets out to both push and protect him, resulting in a life hemmed in and out of the boy's control. His only solace is his rascally grandfather (Bruno Ganz,
Wings of Desire, as wily and charismatic as ever), who lets Vitus explore without restrictions. But when he can stand his mother's well-intentioned but domineering ways no longer, Vitus takes a drastic step to reclaim his autonomy. A charming fable,
Vitus rises above the usual cliches about gifted youth through subtle performances, emotional restraint, and lovely images. Director Fredi M. Murer draws remarkably natural performances from both Gheorghiu and the adorable Fabrizio Borsani, who plays Vitus at age 6, as well as from the young actresses who play the girl Vitus yearns for. There's no denying that
Vitus aims to be heartwarming, and for some viewers that goal is cloying in and of itself. But when the 6 year old Vitus running around wearing the gigantic batwings his grandfather made, it would take a rigid cynic not to be delighted.
--Bret Fetzer
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Testimonials
Average Buyer Rating:
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* Vitus won us over ...
Vitus captured our attention and held it throughout. For us, it was a wonderful film experience. l was delighted by the pianists and by the world & family that was portrayed. ln a word, refreshing. My husband, the critic of all movie critics, watched it twice more before we had to return it (!). As an intelligent man, it was fun daydreaming fodder to imagine he had his investing and deal-making skills at age 12. For a picky family that buys a movie MAYBE once a year (though we watch many), this was our choice. l'm buying one for my mom, too.
Buyer Rating: -
Virtuosity
An exceptional film about genius: its costs; its rewards. There is no greater gift--this film teaches--than one's individuality. . .Follow that star.
ln the extra "The Making of Vitus" a cast member states a good film makes him cry five times and laugh at least five times. See "Vitus", and keep count.
Buyer Rating: 
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Almost great
Vitus is a prodigy, not only of the piano, but of math and much else besides. His well intentioned mother essentially smothers Vitus with unintended consequences. A loving grandfather plays a big role in this. (Nope, l'm not going to give much away here since it is very easy to spoil this movie by providing too much detail.)
Suffice it to say that Vitus is a one-of-a-kind child, brilliant and wise (with the help of grandpa) beyond his years.
Unfortunately, in an attempt to make the many sub-plots work, some hokey elements are introduced which took some of the enjoyment out of the movie for me. At a couple of points, l literally had to say "C'mon, give me a break!"
But overall, "Vitus" is a wonderful little movie about love, genius and growing up. Lots of fun.
Jerry
Buyer Rating: -
* Classic Cinema From Switzerland ...
This brilliant fable about a child prodigy struggling to take flight remains among the few masterpieces in recent years. Swiss director Fredi M. Murer elicits superb performances from Fabrizio Borsani and Teo Gheorghiu (who portray the boy pianist at ages 6 and 12, respectively) while maintaining a charmingly eccentric tone. Bruno Ganz is wonderful as Vitus' grandfather. l would not change a single frame.
Buyer Rating: -
conquering genius
While many movies have wrestled with the subject of the child prodigy, often they succumb to the opportunity to present an amazing youth, hence another child winds up like an amazing trained monkey stunning an audience. Finally, a film has arrived that takes on the deep burden of talent with sensitive,out-of-the-box understanding. While fantastical, this story nonetheless captures the profound burden of genius. What this wonderful child does about his talent, that is to say, how he finally comes to terms with himself, is a deeply moving tale.A real pianist, too.
S Mann
