Kindermorde

Although it has been twelve years since I saw "Childmurders", the memory of its beauty and texture has stayed with me. The young boy and his grandmother are both vivid in my mind, both very well played. Many of the images of the sky, the canal, the bleak neighborhood have remained also. The awful meanness of children is a catalyst for the action and we can feel the inevitable tragedy. Lack of alternatives in life, especially for those tossed aside by society, often leads to terrible results, as in this story. But the lovely relationship depicted - the reversal of the caretaker and nurtured - is so sweet and real that it takes over the movie. I look forward to seeing this movie again soon.

This film is centered on characters. The plot progresses slowly (perhaps a bit too slow) and the effects are minimal. Black and white underlines the general mood. While all the cast is top-notch, Barnabas Toth throws a brilliant performance. A very talented kid!