Vitus (DVD)
APPROX. 123 MINS. - PROD. YEAR: 2006 - MPA RATING: PG
" Do we need another child prodigy film? Probably not, but this one from Fredi M. Murer delights us anyway.
Vitus most comes to life when he's around his live-in grandfather (Bruno Ganz, "The Manchurian Candidate"), who has an eccentrically cavalier attitude towards genius and everyday life. Grandpa has always wanted to fly, and so he's forever making things that fly in the backyard--including a boomerang he tosses that takes out one of the windows in the house (shrug), and a "bat"-winged flight suit for young Vitus to run around in. Dreamers breed other dreamers, and we can see where Vitus's father gets his attitudes from, and see as well the effect that the grandfather has on him as well. But even minor characters are important in this film, which revolves around the ways that people relate (or can't relate) to Vitus, and vice versa. At the center of his social development is an infatuation he has with a babysitter named Isabel (Kristina Lykowa) that makes such an impact that he seeks her out when she's seven years older (Tamara Scarpellini).
That's what gives this film a nice balance and makes it more than a slice-of-life biography of a genius. Vitus doesn't just come alive when he's sitting at the keyboards. His zest for life is awakened by contact with other dreamers--something that even average IQ folks can identify with. And though Vitus doesn't necessarily see it, his parents have a vibrant relationship. People, after all, are what make life interesting, and the same holds true with films like "Vitus."
Video:
This Sony Pictures Classics title is mastered in High Definition and presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen. There's a slight graininess, but the colors are rich and bright and black levels are strong enough for us to be able to pull some detail even out of scenes that are dark or shadowy. Overally, a solid picture.
Audio:
Same with the sound, a German (Swiss) Dolby Digital 5.1 with subtitles in English, French, and Spanish. There's a natural-sounding treble, a rich bass, and just enough rear-speaker effects to remind us that it's surround sound.
Extras:
The bonus features are solid too. The making-of feature isn't just an afterthought. It's a film made by Rolf Lyssy with Murer's permission, shot from the very beginning of the filming process and edited with a little more artistic flair than the usual making-of feature. Lyssy also provides an interview with Ganz, who mostly talks generally about acting ("I trust the camera because it loves me . . . . It is a wonderful relationship between me and this machine").
A short but still interesting screen test shows 11-year-old Teo Gheorghiu at the piano and talking about himself. Like "Vitus," he loves mathematics as well.
Rounding out the bonus features are 7 deleted and alternate scenes, many of which are a little racier than the footage that Murer retained.
Bottom Line:
Do we need another child prodigy film? Probably not, but this one from Fredi M. Murer delights us anyway because of an engaging cast, a smart script, and perceptive direction.
That's what gives this film a nice balance and makes it more than a slice-of-life biography of a genius. Vitus doesn't just come alive when he's sitting at the keyboards. His zest for life is awakened by contact with other dreamers--something that even average IQ folks can identify with. And though Vitus doesn't necessarily see it, his parents have a vibrant relationship. People, after all, are what make life interesting, and the same holds true with films like "Vitus."
Video:
This Sony Pictures Classics title is mastered in High Definition and presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen. There's a slight graininess, but the colors are rich and bright and black levels are strong enough for us to be able to pull some detail even out of scenes that are dark or shadowy. Overally, a solid picture.
Audio:
Same with the sound, a German (Swiss) Dolby Digital 5.1 with subtitles in English, French, and Spanish. There's a natural-sounding treble, a rich bass, and just enough rear-speaker effects to remind us that it's surround sound.
Extras:
The bonus features are solid too. The making-of feature isn't just an afterthought. It's a film made by Rolf Lyssy with Murer's permission, shot from the very beginning of the filming process and edited with a little more artistic flair than the usual making-of feature. Lyssy also provides an interview with Ganz, who mostly talks generally about acting ("I trust the camera because it loves me . . . . It is a wonderful relationship between me and this machine").
A short but still interesting screen test shows 11-year-old Teo Gheorghiu at the piano and talking about himself. Like "Vitus," he loves mathematics as well.
Rounding out the bonus features are 7 deleted and alternate scenes, many of which are a little racier than the footage that Murer retained.
Bottom Line:
Do we need another child prodigy film? Probably not, but this one from Fredi M. Murer delights us anyway because of an engaging cast, a smart script, and perceptive direction.
Connect to Facebook/Twitter, recommend via email and much more.
Learn more about our rating system »
