“Killing Boys: Russia” is a sobering and powerful look at the lives of a street gang of Russian ten-year-olds who have turned to crime, including theft and murder. Directed by Olga Konskaya and Andrei Nekrasov, the documentary explores the case of Vlodya Jacobs and his gang, who brutally killed a 50-year-old man in 1994.
The film is not an easy watch, but it is a necessary one. Through interviews with Vlodya’s family and friends, as well as police records and footage of the boys in action, the filmmakers paint a complex picture of the circumstances that led to the gang’s criminal activities. The boys are shown to be both victims and perpetrators of a society that has failed them.
One of the most striking things about the film is how ordinary the boys appear on the surface. They are shown cleaning cars and begging on the streets, interacting with shopkeepers and passersby. But as the film unfolds, it becomes clear that their lives are far from ordinary. They have been abandoned by their families, left to fend for themselves on the streets. They are hungry, cold, and desperate for money. And they have turned to crime as a way to survive.
The film raises important questions about the role of poverty, neglect, and societal failure in creating conditions that lead to criminal behavior. It also sheds light on the harsh realities of life for homeless children in Russia, who are often overlooked by authorities and society at large.
Perhaps most heartbreakingly, the film shows how the boys themselves are trapped in a cycle of violence and despair. They know that what they are doing is wrong, but they feel they have no other choice. As one of the boys explains, “We’re not bad kids. We’re just hungry.”
“Killing Boys: Russia” is a difficult film to watch, but it is an important one. It shines a light on a part of society that is often ignored or dismissed, and it forces viewers to confront uncomfortable truths about poverty, neglect, and violence. It is a film that will stay with you long after the credits roll.
