Russia's Wonderchildren

Poorly tuned pianos are only one reason you'll cringe while watching this documentary about young prodigal students at Russia's Central Music School. The talented tykes grapple with poverty and intense competition; meanwhile filmmaker Irene Langemann seems more fascinated with taking long shots of their little hands than exploring the big questions -- namely, why these kids chose to endure such hardship. Is it the after-effects of Communism? Parental pressure? Boredom? We can only guess. In fact, intermittent bleak shots of Moscow are the only suggestion that life behind the stage curtain, is, perhaps, an effect of the Iron Curtain.

Sure, listening to these children practice and perform is mesmerizing, but there's something disturbing about watching them hole up in the music school, subject themselves to very adult criticism, and whip out jarringly impassioned and virtuosic performances. Save for a short coda about what one senior 17-year-old is supposed to do next, Russia's Wonderchildren begs for a little analytical accompaniment.

-- Nina Willdorf