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König der Diebe

  • 20032003
  • 1h 41m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
412
YOUR RATING
König der Diebe (2003)
Drama
Two amateur circus kids from a poor Ukrainian village, 10-year-old Barbu and his older sister Mimma, are sold to a circus artist called Caruso who promises them a career in the West. Caruso ... Read allTwo amateur circus kids from a poor Ukrainian village, 10-year-old Barbu and his older sister Mimma, are sold to a circus artist called Caruso who promises them a career in the West. Caruso smuggles them to Berlin and separates them from each other; he sells Mimma into prostituti... Read allTwo amateur circus kids from a poor Ukrainian village, 10-year-old Barbu and his older sister Mimma, are sold to a circus artist called Caruso who promises them a career in the West. Caruso smuggles them to Berlin and separates them from each other; he sells Mimma into prostitution, while Marcel, an older Albanian boy, teaches Barbu how to snatch purses. When Barbu di... Read all
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
412
YOUR RATING
    • Ivan Fíla
    • Ivan Fíla(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Lazar Ristovski
    • Iakov Kultiasov
    • Katharina Thalbach
    • Ivan Fíla
    • Ivan Fíla(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Lazar Ristovski
    • Iakov Kultiasov
    • Katharina Thalbach
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 4User reviews
    • 2Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards

    Photos

    König der Diebe (2003)
    König der Diebe (2003)
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    Top cast

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    Lazar Ristovski
    Lazar Ristovski
    • Caruso
    Iakov Kultiasov
    • Barbu
    • (as Yasha Kultiasov)
    Katharina Thalbach
    Katharina Thalbach
    • Julie
    Julia Khanverdieva
    • Mimma
    Oktay Özdemir
    • Marcel
    Paulus Manker
    Paulus Manker
    • Kardinal
    Birol Ünel
    Birol Ünel
    • Birol
    Imogen Kogge
    • Polizisti
    Yasemin Bueyueksapci
    • Bianca
    • (as Yasemin Büyüksapci)
    Manfred Witt
    • Dimo
    Viktor Benzler
    • Barbus Vater
    Axel Neumann
    • Pokerspieler
    Motamedi
    • Ali
    Lucia Adyova
    • Kinder bei Caruso
    • (as Lucia Ádyová)
    Petra Hackova
    • Kinder bei Caruso
    • (as Petra Hácková)
    Jan Tancos
    • Kinder bei Caruso
    Martin Toth
    • Kinder bei Caruso
    Ivica Kostric
    • Schmuggler
      • Ivan Fíla
      • Ivan Fíla(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Trivia
      Filming began in 2000 but was halted due to financing issues in January 2001, with fifteen shooting days still remaining. Director Ivan Fíla finished a rough cut of the footage already shot, which he showed to potential backers in hopes of gaining financing to complete the film. In 2003, producer Rudolph Biermann saw the footage and helped finance the completion of the film.
    • Soundtracks
      Love Me
      Lyrics by 'Ladislav Faktor'

      Performed by Ivana Christová

    User reviews4

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    10/10
    Childhood Dreams and Fantasies/Adult Recriminations and Realities
    'Koenig der Diebe' ('King of Thieves') is a powerful indictment dealing with child slavery in the German marketplace. The subject is a tough one to watch but the writing, direction, acting, scenic design, and production of this brilliant film is so incredibly fine that is commands attention.

    The story is a contemporary one, opening in The Ukraine where 10-year old Barbu (Iakov Kultiasov) and his 13-year old sister Mimma (Julia Khanverdieva) are staging a simple but really fine circus in the dusty little town center. Obviously living in fantasy of circus life, they greet the scrubby but congenial Caruso (Lazar Ristovski) as he rides into town tossing candy to the kids. Caruso is an ex-circus owner who is now in the trade of child trafficking and when he sees the buoyant and irresistible Barbu he decides to 'buy' him from the father. Barbu is thrilled but insists Mimma go with him to 'join the big circus' in Berlin: the father consents (accepting money for the purchase of his children) and the three drive off to their new destinies. Barbu and Caruso bond despite the language barrier - Caruso speaks German, Barbu speaks Russian, but they manage to communicate on certain levels. At the Ukrainian/Slovakian border Caruso is stopped and the children he has gathered disperse (Caruso promises to meet Barbu in Berlin and bring Mimma with him). Barbu sets out across country and eventually arrives in Berlin, full of hopes and fantasies ('I am Barbu, King of the Circus'), only to discover through his new found friend, Albanian boy Marcel (Oktay Ozdemir), that the 'circus' Caruso runs has no audience, but instead is a 'school' for teaching children how to steal to support him.

    Caruso lives in a circus tent with a shaved-headed woman Julie (Katharina Thalbach) who is addicted to drugs administered by Caruso to relieve her constant pain (we learn that her pain comes from a trapeze act accident when Caruso failed to catch her resulting in a traumatic fall). Also in the 'circus' are two thugs who police the activities of the boys' thefts. The ever-optimistic Barbu still imagines he will be the king of the circus but is appalled as he gradually discovers the realities of the life of thievery, crime, and most of all that Mimma has been sold into prostitution to a loathsome cruel pimp Kardinal (Paulus Manker). This discovery pushes Barbu to acts of theft to gain money to buy back his sister, but the obstacles he meets along the way emphasize the incredible brutality and cruelty of Caruso and his cohorts. The manner in which the film ends is best left to the viewer to discover, but it is one that will make an indelible imprint on the psyche and heart of those fortunate enough to see this work of art.

    Ivan Fila, born in Prague, Czechoslovakia, is a gifted writer and director. Despite the heart wrenching story matter, he allows us to see all sides of the child trafficking business - including the bonding among the children and the transient feelings of power and success as they learn 'new trade'. The actors in this drama are absolutely extraordinary: few child actors can match the performance of Iakov Kultiasov as Barbu, and this is his first experience at acting! The set decoration, lighting, costumes, scenery, cinematography, and musical score by Michael Kocab are as atmospheric as anything ever filmed! KING OF THIEVES is an amazingly fine film, but audiences should be warned that it has moments of violence that are difficult to watch. Highly Recommended. Grady Harp
    helpful•20
    3
    • gradyharp
    • Jun 25, 2006

    Details

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    • Release date
      • 2003 (Austria)
      • Slovakia
      • Czech Republic
      • Slovenia
      • Netherlands
      • Austria
      • Belgium
      • Germany
      • France
      • German
      • Ukrainian
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Berlin, Germany
    • Production companies
      • Arte France Cinéma
      • Charlie's Bratislava
      • In Film Praha
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • 1 hour 41 minutes
      • Color
      • Dolby SR

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