Children Underground (2001)

Children Underground, a 2001 American documentary directed and produced by Edet Belzberg, thrusts viewers into the gritty reality of five homeless children surviving in the subway stations of Bucharest, Romania. Against the backdrop of post-communist upheaval, these young souls grapple with hunger, addiction, and the harshness of life on the streets.

The Setting:

• Set in Bucharest, the film exposes the plight of approximately 20,000 street children—a consequence of the collapse of communism.
• These children are not mere statistics; they are real, vulnerable, and desperate.

The Protagonists:

1. Cristina Ionescu (aged 16):
   • Escaped an abusive orphanage at age 11.
   • Her boyish appearance is a survival tactic.
   • As the leader of the subway kids, she navigates the harsh realities with resilience.
2. Mihai Alexandru Tudose (aged 12):
   • Fled home at 8 due to parental abuse.
   • Dreams of skills, a home, and education.
   • Refuses to beg; instead, he stocks shelves for shopkeepers.
3. Violeta ‘Macarena’ Rosu (aged 14):
   • Quiet and submissive.
   • Cristina protects her.
   • The nickname Macarena stems from her love for the song.
4. Ana and Marian (siblings):
   • Ana’s tantrums affect Mihai emotionally.
   • The filmmakers capture their visits to their homes outside Bucharest.

The Struggle:

• These children panhandle, fight, and sleep on cardboard boxes.
• Their drug of choice? Aurolac, a noxious silver paint inhaled from plastic bags.
• The subway platforms become their makeshift homes, where they battle hunger and desperation.

The Filmmaking Approach:

• Director Belzberg and cameraman Wolfgang Held maintain a respectful distance.
• The camera captures raw moments without intrusion.
• Cristina’s transformation—from a tough facade to vulnerability—reveals the toll of survival.

Themes Explored:

1. Survival: These children fight for existence, their innocence stripped away.
2. Gender Roles: Girls like Cristina and Macarena adopt masculine appearances for protection.
3. Invisible Lives: Commuters pass them daily, oblivious to their suffering.

Impact and Reception:

• Children Underground is an intimate and gut-wrenching portrayal.
• It forces us to confront our privilege and the fragility of childhood.
• With an 85% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, it leaves an indelible mark on our hearts.

In this dark underworld, Belzberg’s lens captures both despair and fleeting moments of connection. These children—forgotten by society—become unforgettable through her lens.