Cinema Kingston presents the screening of THE ITALIAN (Andrei Kravchuk, Russia, 2005). This critically acclaimed film follows a Russian orphan facing all odds in a journey to find his birth mother.“The Italian is tough to watch at times, but then so is life. Chances are you’ll leave the theatre moved by the strength of the human spirit and with newfound respect for the bond between a child and his mother.†(Peter Howell, Toronto Star)
Screening takes place on Sunday, March 18th at the Etherington Auditorium, 94 Stuart Street at 7:00PM. General Admission: $8.00 at the door.
THE ITALIAN is a very human and sympathetic study of a young boy in the grim world of a Russian orphanage that carries overtones of Charles Dickens. The adults scheme while the children plan their escapes or simply try to negotiate their way through lives with little future. Director Andrei Kravchuk seamlessly depicts the harsh reality of this environment while remaining open to the dramatic possibilities offered by the story of six-year-old Vanya.
The orphanage is run by the wily “Madam” who is only interested in making money by selling the children to wealthy westerners who come her way. Each adoption is treated as a financial transaction. The vulnerable but tough-skinned Vanya is given his nickname, “The Italian,” when he is chosen for adoption by an Italian couple. However, Vanya’s life changes when he meets the birth mother of another boy who had left for the West in the hands of foreigners. This encounter has a huge impact, and convinces Vanya that he needs to find his own birth mother.
Confronting one obstacle after another, Vanya is tireless throughout his attempt to find his mother. During his voyage, he encounters kindness and sympathy, treachery and duplicity, but remains unwaveringly focused on his goal.
“THE ITALIAN is blessed by the stunning performance of Kolya Spiridonov in the lead role: full of spunk, yet also deeply sensitive. The film is neither black nor white, depressing nor uplifting, but a wonderful combination of differing emotions.â€(Piers Handling, Toronto International Film Festival)
Andrei Kravchuk was born in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg) and attended both Leningrad State University and the St. Petersburg State University of Film and Television. His short films include Indonesia, My Love (co-director, 92) and Evening and Morning (96). He has also directed documentaries, TV programmes and the feature Christmas Mystery (co-director, 00). The Italian (06) is his most recent film.
Cinema Kingston is sponsored by the Department of Film Studies at Queen’s University and is part of the Toronto International Film Festival Group’s Film Circuit. For over 35 years Film Studies has endeavored to bring the best and most challenging of world and Canadian cinema to Kingston.
For further information, please contact Lisa Visser at 613 453 4866 or write to cinemak@post.queensu.ca; or check the website at www.film.queensu.ca/cinemakingston
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