Sequestro - Inocência Roubada

A dark odyssey bout the traffic of people and even worse, children. An international network of a cancer affecting the world takes as prey a Polish girl and sends a policeman through a long trek of recovery all over the world.

Sometimes it reminds the topic of THE OFFENCE (Dir.: Sideny Lumet, 1974). Worth a view if you have the stomach for it.

Polish cinema is daring and has no regard for losses. Director Patryk VEGA in particular goes very far in terms of sex and violence in his films. First of all, this has to be very respected, but it can quickly become too hype-like and become an end in itself. Almost as a provocation for the sake of provocation!

This film about the internationally networked child slave trade has some very violent and extremely unpleasant scenes, the exploitation of which can certainly be criticized. Thematically and dramatically, the film also takes its role models from "The Promise / It Happened in Broad Daylight" based on the crime novel by the Swiss writer Friedrich DÜRRENMATT and the similar crime film "Abschaum" from the German crime film series TATORT from 2004. Patryk VEGA just goes a few steps further, always to where it is particularly painful. The man is not afraid of rumors! I would like to see a little more of this in German cinemas too!

The film sold more than 400,000 tickets in Polish cinemas. However, only those who are seriously interested in the topic and can endure a lot should watch streaming.

There was an opportunity here to weave the viewer through a sick twisted journey of pedophiles and the worst of humanity, but worn-out cliches, mouth-yawning action, unnecessary story sequences and painfully stupid character decisions bury this movie in the cemetary of forgotten films. Too bad, there were actually some worthy moments and glimpses of potential. But as usual, too many writers and filmmakers today can't look past the typical crap to create moving stories with interesting characters.

As far as I am concerned Poland produces the best crime dramas among all the former socialist countries. They produce very dark and cruel stories which are never for the faint hearted. Their trick: they tend to not get detached from reality much.

So this movie is no exception. Nobody who expects some light entertainment, adventure and easy satisfection should go anywhere near it as the viewer will have to endure scenes matching those one would see in the toughest psycho thrillers and horror flicks.

But for those who like the realistic hardcore stuff, this movie will absolutely work.

Small World is a disturbing but realistic portrayal of a film on the subject of child sex trafficking. A girl is abducted in Poland and taken to Russia as a cop relentlessly pursues the kidnappers. From Poland and Russia to Britain and Thailand, the underworld of these slime bags is universal. The acting is excellent, and the story a riveting one. Not a pleasant movie, but a necessary one.