it be say that 6 year old vitus actually play . well he do not in the dance scene with the babyseatter . it be actually embarrass to watch the poor kind play clown a tell by the director . there be many more thing which no director yet master to show properly . it be to do with the feel of timing . that be obvious when vitus find out the padlock ( at air port ) lock . but hey . the director must make sure that the kid pull this padlock few time with the camera close up on the padlock so the slowest from the audience actually get it that the the padlock be lock . minus 15 point for the director on this . the kid play piano life and this can not be deny . something not too often offer to watch in movie . here be my 7 point justification . but a a 12 year old he tackle very difficult piece by franz list only to practice ( much later in the movie ) a very basic and the very beginner drill by carl cherny . bad of all . mother claim not to be a pianist but she be give a lesson to already then well fledge pianist . that be something i could not stop laughing at . vitus at 6 year old be pathetic a he should be expect to be at that age . however the 12 year old vitus do a good job . i do not see too clearly that he want to be normal any other way than by his own brief comment about it represent ) . although nothing new in the movie from what have already be show in thousand of other movie this movie be not a markedly oversweetened work and the true play of a child be something very refreshing to watch after all those circus clown like kid from hollywood in most other movie about genious kid . to sum up represent first part of vitus at 6 be way below any value . second part of vitus 12 repair the damage to the point that the movie be well worth watch . ( once ) .