User Reviews

I am compelled to write something about this documentary because it deserves comment. I saw this film at the Prizren documentary film festival in 2009, and was struck not only by the content and subject matter, but also by the naturalistic and respectful way in which the whole documentary was shot.

The subject matter is certainly difficult to digest, the stories that these children recount difficult to believe, and the brutality of some of their lives' shocking. Yet the children are presented with neutral respect, and one feels that each and every one of the protagonists who make up this documentary is a real human, with unique characteristics. Despite one or two moments where one gets the feeling the authorities have staged an event or two for the benefit of the foreign film-makers, the documentary has the very rare quality of capturing the atmosphere and pulse of everyday life of its subjects.

I give this documentary a 10 on the basis of the impact I felt watching it. It is quite simply one of the most interesting, disturbing, and naturalistic documentaries I have ever seen, making me think a lot about society, punishment, inequality, and human nature.

The very best of storytelling, a documentary without an agenda, unless I'm too obtuse to get it. For background, see "Three rooms of Melancholie' and 'The Italian.' Also see the Tennessee lady that mailed her adoptive Russian 7 yr old back to Russia. After seeing this I understand that Culture Shock hit the kid, and the kid panicked which freaked out the adoptive mom. She had alternatives, but decided to jump ship and will probably do time. This is a high profile screwup. No indication she tried backups, psychiatrists, medication, etc. Probably read some book about psychopaths and figured she would be murdered in her sleep. There were 6-8 kids you got familiar with, only one which really bothered me because his affect was inappropriate to the situation, a hallmark of true disturbance. Several cried. Many were thankful for being locked up because 3 hots and a cot and adult supervision was better than what they were used to. Discipline was unobtrusive but obviously effective. There did not seem to be therapy groups, counseling talk. There was simply a working system which the kids entered and accepted because the alternative (a hard place for older, rougher kids) was always an option. Real, realistic, genuine kids who cried when it was called for; mostly just trying to survive. They were running wild on the streets and thought they'd never lose or get caught. Wrong.