Children Underground

2001, Documentary, 1h 44m

17 Reviews 1,000+ Ratings

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Children Underground Photos

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Movie Info

After the fall of communism in Romania, unwanted children in state orphanages escaped into the streets. These children are the subject of this documentary, which follows them into a subterranean world of hierarchy, hunger and drug use. The film focuses on five diverse children, including 12-year-old Mihai, who ran away from home due to his father's beatings, and Cristina, who passes for a boy. The filmmakers follow and record their daily lives, and the strained possibilities for reintegration.
  • Genre:
    Documentary
  • Original Language:
    Romanian
  • Director:
    Edet Belzberg
  • Producer:
    Edet Belzberg
  • Release Date (Theaters):
     original
  • Release Date (Streaming):
  • Runtime:
  • Distributor:
    Red Horse Inc.

Cast & Crew

Edet Belzberg
Director
Edet Belzberg
Producer

Critic Reviews for Children Underground

All Critics (17) | Top Critics (8) | Fresh (16) | Rotten (1)
Full Review… Peter Rainer New York Magazine/Vulture Full Review… Geoff Pevere Toronto Star Full Review… Robert Koehler Variety Full Review… Jan Stuart Newsday Full Review… Stephen Holden New York Times Full Review… Lou Lumenick New York Post Full Review… Christopher Null Filmcritic.com Full Review… Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Full Review… Ron Wells Film Threat Full Review… Daniel Eagan Film Journal International Full Review… Ken Fox TV Guide Full Review… Harvey S. Karten Compuserve
View All Critic Reviews (17)

Audience Reviews for Children Underground

  • Jan 06, 2012
    Tremendously depressing story about young kids in Bucharest who spend their lives engaged in violence with one another and getting high on homemade goop. See it when you need to be saddened.
    John B Super Reviewer
  • Mar 26, 2010
    Remembering reading about the horror of the Romanian orphanages a while ago, it's heartbreaking to see that life didn't get any better for these kids. If the point of making this documentary was to help these kids in some way, how could the crew stand by and watch these kids hurt themselves and each other? I'm also curious to find out if this benefitted them in any way. Some were fortunate enough to get off the streets, while others were still wandering around helplessly. It's a well done documentary, but where's the line between being a documentary and exploitation of a situation?
    nefnie l Super Reviewer
  • Oct 21, 2009
    Very heartbreaking & sad
    Brody M Super Reviewer
  • Jul 09, 2008
    Wow. This is a spectacular doc. The footage shown is phenomenal and unbelievable. You have to see it to believe it.
    Wu C Super Reviewer
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