Vitus (2006)

User Rating:

7.6/10   

Director:

Fredi M. Murer

Writers:

Peter Luisi (writer)
Fredi M. Murer (writer)

Release Date:

7 December 2006 (Israel)

Genre:

Drama | Music

Tagline:

The story of a highly-gifted boy

Plot:

The film tells the story of a highly-gifted boy whose parents have demanding and ambitious plans for him - they want him to become a pianist...

Plot Keywords:

Highly Gifted | Piano | Stock Market | Switzerland | Child Prodigy

Awards:

2 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Fabrizio Borsani	...	Vitus - age 6
Teo Gheorghiu	...	Vitus von Holzen - age 12
Julika Jenkins	...	Helen von Holzen, mother
Urs Jucker	...	Leo von Holzen, father
Bruno Ganz	...	Grandfather
Eleni Haupt	...	Luisa
Kristina Lykowa	...	Isabel - age 12
Tamara Scarpellini	...	Isabel - age 19
Daniel Rohr	...	Hoffmann jun.
Norbert Schwientek	...	Hoffmann sen.
Heidy Forster	...	Gina Fois
Daniel Fueter	...	Direktor Konservatorium
Livia S. Reinhard	...	Kindergärtnerin
Susanne Kunz	...	Primarlehrerin
Thomas Mathys	...	Arzt

MPAA:

Rated PG for mild thematic elements and language.

Runtime:

100 min | USA:123 min | Germany:120 min

Country:

Switzerland

Language:

Swiss German | English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Germany:6 (self applied) | Germany:o.Al. | USA:PG | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | Argentina:Atp | Portugal:M/12 | Czech Republic:U | South Korea:All

Filming Locations:

Schloss Waldeck, Solothurn, Kanton Solothurn, Switzerland

Company:

Vitusfilm GmbH

Quotes:

Vitus von Holzen - age 12: The hardest part was losing that game of chess!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Die Vitusmacher (2006) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Der wilde Reiter

Amazing Journey into Genius

I loved that this child was not only musically gifted, which I expected from the descriptors of the movie. He was mathematically a genius as well. But, the most amazing part was his understanding of psychology -- the ability to solve severe financial problems for his grandfather, the ability to manipulate everyone in his world into thinking he was normal for several years. The movie is one of the best I have seen in, literally, decades. And, then, there is the piano performance of a real musical savant. So, this is the story -- but the ability of the script and the director to move me into childhood, to remember what some of the issues of autonomy are, to see a family who loves and cares for their child, but also faces issues of financial pressures and job loss. This is a movie we can all relate to on many levels. What a great show!! I hope it becomes available on DVD -- I'll buy about 10 to give away. Dr. Margaret