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Flash Movie Review: The Italian
How did I get to Russia from the comforts of my sofa? I will tell you, by watching this deeply emotional movie. The lead character was 6 year old Russian orphan Vanya Solntsev, played by Kolya Spiridonov (Twilight). His performance was utterly outstanding, able to convey deep emotions with his expressive face and eyes. The story based on true events was about Vanya who lived in an orphanage, where the ultimate dream of each child was to be adopted. Vanya, however, had a different dream when an Italian couple hoped to adopt him and take him back to their home in Italy. Instead, through a surprise turn of events, the determined small orphan sets out to find his real mother, believing her to be alive. The journey he set himself on was an incredible one to watch. I was so moved viewing this DVD; it felt like I was accompanying the small boy as he pushed himself forward, despite being pursued by orphanage employees and the police. Some say the heart is the strongest muscle in our body; after watching this film, I now understand what they mean. Russian/Italian with English subtitles.
3 1/2 stars — DVD
Flash Movie Review: God Grew Tired of Us
The reality shows aired on television are certainly not reality to me. This movie was a sobering dose of reality, with such a spirit of life; all I can say is that I was in awe. You may not be familiar with the lost boys of Sudan, who walked thousands of miles in search of a safe haven, due to the civil war raging in their country. Their plight was horrific as they had to avoid the northern aggressors during the day and lions at night. For some of them, the only life they had ever known was living in refugee camps. This documentary showed the journey of a few boys out of a group who were able to migrate to the United States. Imagine for a moment what it must have felt like to leave not only your family and friends, but your country. I’m stressed just when I have had to move to a new house, talk about getting a reality check. How does one explain a light switch to someone who has no knowledge of electricity? I loved the scene where the friends were introduced to a grocery store and offered a frosted, sprinkled doughnut. Looking at it, they were not sure if it was food. The phrase “food for thought” came to mind here. What I really appreciated from watching this illuminating movie was the way the director not only showed their life in America, but also showed a little bit of our lives through these boys’ eyes.
3 1/2 stars — DVD
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