

Director: Andrei Kravchuk
Cast: Kolya Spiridonov

This film was submitted by Russia for Oscar 2006.
It also garnered the Deutsches Kinderhilfswerk Grand Prix and Glass Bear - Special Mention at Berlin International Film Festival 2005

Synopsis
A boy who is about to be adopted by an Italian couple decides to leave the orphanage in search of his mother. Will he find her?!

My thoughts

-- Without givng the ending away, it is one of the more often talked about scene in the film ...

-- I also feel that the director and script writer do spend some thoughts in crafting the various events and their depiction of the orphanage ... there is a cautious attempt to portray both the good and bad of human beings, the institution and the society at large ...

-- Here is something from me ...
... in the COLD winter of Russia, do we experience the WARMTH of humanity?!
... in the HOPE brought forth by adoption, do we sense some DESPAIR in exploitation?!
... in an attempt to HELP, do we often HARM?!
... as we pursue our DREAM, what does REALITY speak?!
... as we follow our HEART, do we care much about REASON?!
... and if the PAST was a mistake, can we make the FUTURE better?

Conclusion
Recommended. ... Superficially, it is just a heart warming story about an orphan who seeks to find his mother despite his upcoming adoption by an Italian couple ... However, if we are willing to probe further, the story hints at commentary about the society. As a whole, it parallels the desire of Russians seeking their "mother" land ...