König der Diebe

Not only the acting, but also the subject makes this film seem unbelievably realistic. As I watched this movie at a European Film Festival in Trieste, Italy, I was basically speechless. Probably it doesn't mean much to the ones over the ocean but it has rather more to do with things going on here in Europe.

Movie presents the story of two kids bought from Ukraine directly from their father by an ex-circus master, now running some masked "school" of thieves. Actually the kids are brought into Germany and taught all the skills you need to be an amazing "pocket picker" just so that they can bring at least 500 EUR (don't know if EUR is the currency though) every day. When they don't they are whipped and thrown outside with their own blood covering their body. This is the fate of one of the two Ukrainian kids, Barbu, the 10 year old boy. The girl has a more horrible fate as she is lost in a poker game to a pimp. He first rapes the 13 year old Mimma then forces her to prostitute herself beating her like all the other bought/won minors he had.

As the story goes on it is unbelievable how good this film has been realized. It is shocking not by exaggeration but by how well it describes the frightening reality we live in. A must see; it will change your life if you realize it exposes the simple truth.