Review of The Italian (2005) by Brittania B — 11 Mar 2007

This film is so bleak and lonely feeling, so grey, that it feels as if it was shot in Russia 3/4 of a century ago. I don't think that there was scene shot when the sun was out until about 2/3 of the way through the film.

If not for some of the late model vehicles in the film, there's little else to indicate that it actually is set in 2002. The story, set in an orphanage, is centered around a six year old boy, Vanya, who is to be adopted by an Italian couple. The boy's desire to know where he came from, and who his real mother is drive the plot. The young actors put on a superb performance, and it all comes together to deliver a very satisfying film-viewing experience.