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Child I Never Was (The)

Country: Germany, Language: German, 83 mins

Original Title

Ein Leben Lang Kurze Hosen Tragen
  • Director: Kai S. Pieck
  • Writer: Jurgen Bartsch; Paul Moor
  • Producer: Andrea Hanke; Bettina Scheuren

CGiii Comment

A very special and powerful film.

The matter-of-fact story-telling of Jurgen Bartsch - the youngest recorded serial killer.

Tobias Schenke is utterly masterful in the role...about a boy who did not want to grow up.

Explanations behind the killings are logical and, weirdly, understandable which makes this quite a remarkable achievement by Pieck - the audience will actually feel for this monstrous child.

Empathy has never been given so reluctantly.

This is Pieck's first (and to date last) feature - he seems to have gone into TV - his next feature is eagerly anticipated.

A stunning debut.


Trailer...

Ein Leben lang kurze Hosen tragen (The Child I Never Was) (2002 / 83' / Super16+HD / 1.78:1 / color + b&w) - TRAILER (German) from Kai S. Pieck on Vimeo.

The(ir) Blurb...

Fictionalized account of Jürgen Bartsch, a German boy who became notorious in the 1960's after his conviction for the serial killings and sexual molestation of a number of young German boys. Told partly as recreation and partly as taped confession.

Cast & Characters

Tobias Schenke as Jurgen Bartsch, Older;
Sebastian Urzendowsky as Jurgen Bartsch, Younger;
Ulrike Bliefert as Gertrud Bartsch;
Walter Gontermann as Gerhard Bartsch;
Jurgen Christoph Kamcke as Father Seidlitz;
Sebastian Ruger as Young Deacon;
Stephan Szasz as Young Priest;
Roland Riebeling as Chaplain Herles;
Hans-Joachim Kulenkampff as Himself