It made me cry ...

This movie has a very clear message if you listen closely especially in the scene when Charlotte Rampling (plays the role of a mother with a severely disabled daughter) says, "Prepare yourself for suffering if you intend to be close to him." This was the deciding scene for me and hopefully for many. Kim Rossi Stuart plays Gianni, the father of 16-year-old Paolo (played by Andrea Rossi who in real life is afflicted with MS), who is physically disabled. Gianni had abandoned the boy at birth, when the child's mother died, and Paulo's aunt and uncle raised him. They have contacted Gianni and asked him to take Paulo to Berlin for a battery of medical tests.
Although some critics have characterized Stuart as being "wooden" in his portrayal I found that portrayal genuine. Here's a man who walked away from the responsibilities of being a father to a physically handicapped child then decides to return 15 years later and be the father he never was. The journey back to fatherhood would be difficult at best and reconnecting with his 16 year old son had a healthy dose of emotional suffering. Gianni had to embrace his son's personality that shone like a shining star high above his physical malady. It was Gianni's task to see that beautiful personality. It was Paolo's task to embrace his father's desire to love him.
The movie moves slow but the story is very compelling and honest. What kept me watching was the honest portrayal of both Stuart and Rossi and a very heart warming story of a father and son rediscovering love.