The Italian (2005 film)

Infobox Film
name = The Italian


caption = "The Italian" film poster
writer = Andrei Romanov
starring = Kolya Spiridonov
director = Andrei Kravchuk
producer = Olga Agrafenina
Andrei Zertsalov
distributor = Sony Pictures Classics
released = September 22, 2005
runtime = 90 min.
language = Russian
budget =
imdb_id = 0450450

"The Italian" ( _ru. Итальянец; tr.:"Italianetz") is a 2005 film directed by Andrei Kravchuk and starring Kolya Spiridonov.

Plot Summary

The film opens in a Russian orphanage, where the daily routine of the boys is broken when "Madame" arrives with an Italian couple hoping to adopt a child. They are introduced to six year old Vanya, who they warm to quickly and offer to take him back to Italy. The other boys envy Vanya, but he begins to have doubts when another mother comes to reclaim her son, and is determined to find his own birth mother.

He leaves the orphanage with an older girl working there as a prostitute and the address of his previous children's home, hoping to find further details of his mother there. He ends up boarding the train alone and catches a bus to the children's home, whilst being followed by "Madame", who needs Vanya for the Italians' money, and her driver. He speaks to the head of the children's home and sets off with his mother's address. He bumps into the driver, who, after a fight in the rain, decides to let him go and meet his mother. The film ends with Vanya narrating a letter to his friend Anton, who was adopted by the Italian couple instead.

Cast

Awards and Honours

78th Academy Awards
*Official Russian entry for Best Foreign Language Film

Berlin International Film Festival
*Won: Deutsches Kinderhilfswerk Grand Prix (Best Feature Film)
*Won: Glass Bear - Special Mention (Best Feature Film)

Toronto International Film Festival
*Official Russian entry

Telluride Film Festival
*Official Russian entry

Ale Kino! - International Young Audience Film Festival
*Won: Golden Poznan Goat

Carrousel International du Film
*Won: C.I.F.E.J. Award

Cinekid
*Won: Cinekid Film Award

Honfleur Festival of Russian Cinema
*Won: Grand Prix

External links

*imdb title | id=0450450 | title=The Italian