Children of Wax

I sincerely wonder why this film was ever made. A Bulgarian-Italian co-production set in a version of Berlin where all Germans speak English with a German accent and all Turks speak English with some Turkish words in between, is hardly credible. The English vocabulary is basically limited to "fuck you, bastard" and the acting is worse than anyone can imagine. Apart from this, racial tensions in Germany can be an interesting subject but in the Germany I know there are no gangs shooting each other in the middle of the street in clear daylight. And if all that is not enough, there is also a serial killer going around who kills Turkish children and paints them white. In order to create some tension, we see the serial killer and hear him hum Schubert's lullaby but we won't see his face.

I don't even believe they actually shot it in Germany. There are some street shots that are quite obviously in Berlin, but the actors are not seen in those shot. It's probably Bulgaria with some German signs added here and there.

In Kreuzberg, Berlin, the Turkish gangs of immigrants and the skinheads are permanently fighting against each other and drug trafficking. Meanwhile, a serial-killer is killing children in the neighborhood. The Turkish Commissary Kemal (Armand Assante) is transferred from Wiesbaden to Kreuzberg, where he was born, and assigned to investigate the murderers.

When the Turkish gang accuses the Neo Nazi gang of murdering the Turkish children, they schedule a war in a club. But the leader of the skinheads claims that his gang is not killing the children.

"Children of Wax" is an awful film with a lame and messy story and poor and amateurish acting. The characters are unpleasant, speaks in English with German and Turkish accent and the drug-dealer Murat is in the end the most charismatic character. The situations are absurd, like Greta shagging Hakan in the van; or the use of heavy weapons on the streets of Berlin without any consequence; or the boy Mustapha shooting and killing people. I laughed with the wooden face of Armand Assante when he learns that his son had been abducted by the serial-killer. Last but not the least, the scene of Murat judging the killer closes with golden key this ridiculous film. My vote is two.

Title (Brazil): "Crianças de Cera" ("Children of Wax")

Brilliant work. Marvelous actors dissolve as brave and courageous characters .All unforgettable parts in a more than intriguing and capturing action –thriller. The casting is perfect. Both from the side of the stars like :Armand Asante, Bernhardt, Kier ,Denier. But as well for new faces .I was very impressed by the young actor who plays the boy gang member- Mustafa. You trust each one from the Turkish gang. Very convincing is Michael Barral and all white power followers. I admire the music beat of the main theme of "Children of Wax".This sound track is a charming mixture of Turkish, hard rock and Udo Kier's humming… And in the same time Children of Wax "a tale focusing on racial conflicts .The intolerance and brutality between the skinheads and the Turks.

This film is a very descent remake of the famous Fritz Lang's masterpiece "M- Murder".It is well made and with a entertaining key to speak about pretty serious events and contemporary problems in Eurobe but not only the whole world.The ethnic intolerance is such a huge evil and very contagions nowadays. So "Children of Wax" or as it is known in US distribution reveals the question of German and Turk hatred in an amusing way.No doubt it is well appreciated to be taken for distribution by the great Weinsten brothers.And there is another fact I liked most is the participation in this movie of the favorite actor of Lars von Trier the great Udo Kier who shows to play with such a pleasure for the Bulgarian film director Ivan Nichev.

First I have to say that I really love Udo Kier and have always had respect for Armand Assante but nothing could save this train wreck of a movie. Udo does not even appear till much later in the movie and the acting from Everyone is just terrible. The script is all over the place, the dialog is wooden, the "action" is laughable and the plot could be summed up on a dirty cocktail napkin. I really wanted to find something redeeming in this movie but found myself holding my hands over my eyes, shaking my head and repeating over and over to myself, "Oh Udo.....why???....Why?????..". If you are a fan of Udo or Armand, please don't watch this movie. It will only make you sad for them.