The Italian is a Russian film about a six-year-old Russian boy who runs away from his orphanage to search for his mother rather than be adopted (or sold) to a wealthy and kind Italian couple.
Dickens, anyone?
This story was beautiful. It could easily become one of my favorites. The cinematography and soundtrack were simple, unassuming, and perfect. Watching this, I wanted to go to Russia (or Africa, for that matter) and take home all these children. And the lead actor, Kolya Spiridonov, who plays Vanya Solntsev, did an amazing job.
But what really struck me were two theological themes: eschatology (hope) and anthropology (humanity).
Vanya was offered a comfortable life, a good life. All the orphans wanted this life. It wasn't wrong to be adopted. It wasn't wrong to want a new family, a place to belong, a home of love. But Vanya knew that there was something truer for him. Despite common sense (doesn't it make more sense to go with the new family that wants you than to search for a mom you've never met but who apparently abandoned you?), despite the obstacles (a six-year-old on his own in Russia being chased by the woman who coordinated his adoption and wants her money), despite the doubts (why did his mother leave him in the first place? would she take him now?), Vanya left his one chance of a life of comfort to seek the possibility of joy.
Isn't that the hope to which we've been called? Isn't that the decision we're faced with every day, to look past the material comforts and easy living in order to seek the possibility of joy? (Olsteen calls it "your best life now." I call it settling.) This is our eschatological hope--knowing that we have a future resurrection, that the whole earth looks forward to a future resurrection, and choosing to live that future now, to participate in that kingdom.
The Italian has one of the best portrayals I've seen of humanity: frailty and strength, ugly and beautiful, corruptness and Imago Dei. The characters try to love and protect each other, even if it comes out sideways. It's the best they know how. Sometimes that "love" gets mixed up with power. Sometimes it empowers. Sometimes it corrodes. Sometimes it blossoms. Sometimes it stands as an obstacle. Sometimes it prepares the way.
I highly, highly recommend this movie. Please, do yourself a favor and rent The Italian.
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