Sex Traffic

It's easy to understand why someone who is starving and homeless might risk everything in search of a better life abroad. But there are countries in which, although they are poorer than the affluent west, people can get by. So why do their citizens endure the most appalling hardship as economic migrants and illegal immigrants? Blame it on the grotesque disparities in exchange rates, which mean that a year's savings in Britain might be a lifetime's in Moldova; but blame it also on our most corrosive export, the myth that sustains our own societies, that man can control his own destiny, that we can, that we must, always seek to make something more of our lives. The irony is that the pursuit of this dream can take all of us only further away from what matters: a place in which, and people with whom, we can be at home.

The subject matter of migration has been excellently served in recent years, through the wonderful Channel Four documentary, 'The Last Peasants', and through Michael Winterbottom's sublime film, 'In This World'. 'Sex Traffic' completes a noble trilogy, with its harrowing but sadly convincing script, fine direction and stunning performances from its leads: British actor John Simm and, in two more demanding roles, a brilliant pair of young Romanian actresses, Anamaria Varince and Maria Popistasu. Serious but also dramatic, this is an outstanding mini-series. I have only two relatively minor quibbles: the journalistic, pseudo-documentary feel is slightly overdone, especially in episode one (the story doesn't need such heavy-handed treatment); and the strange way the film stigmatises an American multinational company. It's perfectly reasonable to believe that the power of such companies is one the main causes of the economic imbalances that fundamentally drive migration; but this company is merely guilty of covering up the fact that some of its employees have done bad things (but of course, it's easier to blame a bogeyman than it is to blame ourselves, and our own outrageous share of the global wealth). Don't let these matters put you off watching one of the most outstanding, emotional, and important, dramas of the year.

I have to apologize to you all if my English is bad. I will try to be the most understandable then ever. I just finished with watching the first part of this movie. No movie left such a powerful impression on me as this one. I was crying like a baby. And those tears were not the result of happiness. I do not want to talk about production. That is not important. Important is the thing that there are some people, girls, and they are just like Lena and Vara, but not in the movie yet in real life. How we could help them? What can we do for not happening these things to some girl? It is awful...really awful. And I am ashamed for being a human!

The other side of the 169 minute, two part film, Human Trafficking, you have this one, the more dubious of the two. You'll see why the story needs to be in two parts. From the baddies angle, the pimps, and pornographers, it pulls no punches, showing these merciless fu..ers who deceive attractive looking sorts, (guess what they were aspiring to be) then putting them to work in the unsuspecting hell of Russian sex slavery. Two such victims are two sisters who get split, one broken who starts working with the sex traffickers. From the first reel we see a score of victims being put on tape, introducing themselves, lying about their age, and being humiliated by this scum. As not seeing their faces, the intimidating tones of their voices are enough to tell us, the sort of lowlifes they really are. We even have a young guy, part of the syndicate, in his late teens, who lures the girls in with his good looks, and charm, you'd want to punch him, especially in the final scene, where a new lass is about to become traded property. One guy, who's sister was snatched and killed, wants revenge, he meets up with an unrelenting young journalist (Simms-Human Traffic, Life On Mars) to find these scum and close them down. This is a very dark drama, again painting the pimps as real bada..es, (some of the most merciless I've seen in these pics) who won't hesitant, to kill their trade if out of line, like in one shock scene, the youngest of the flock taken out, as supposedly feeling not very well. Of course a lot of similarities will pop up in this film, if having watched a lot of other human trafficking films, but too we also see the political side, with the government trying to shut down these operations, some of the figures, being of corrupt ilk themselves. We also see their family life too as we cut back and forth in three linked stories, of Simms, the bada..es, and the government, that works in nice even continuity. Well worth a look drama, with engaging performances, the talented Simms for one.

I am saddened that this film could not be seen by more people. Yes, it is gritty. Yes, it is rough. But it will change your life and will make you want to change the lives of others. David Yates crafts the horrific images and reality of the sex trafficking world. He is a hero for affecting so many (or so few?) by taking on this task.

When the film was over, I wished there was a list of phone numbers of organizations I could call to help prevent these atrocities from occurring any longer. You will too. Please, instead of passing on one of those ridiculous emails, thinking that you will make a change, pass this movie on - it might actually get the job done.

I expected this movie to have won the BAFTA award only for showing a controversial subject and being a Romanian co-production, like a sympathy vote for our lesser movies. I was completely blown away after seeing it. It was a film where international actors (american, British, Romanian being the most) created realistic scenes, completely believable and inspiring. Great script, directing and acting.

What is this movie about? It's about the ultimate feeling of helplessness. The characters all feel it at some time or the other and certainly the viewers do. As young girls are hauled away through Eastern and Western Europe, the viewer is raped as they are in that comfy belief that human society is nice, modern and evolved.

It is one of those few movies that make you feel sick inside, without being gory or too graphic. Is it a global conspiracy to blame for the evil depicted in the film? No, it's simple human nature. I can only compare this movie with Das Experiment, a movie that I recently saw, or with the more classic Cannibal Holocaust. It does feel a bit lengthy at times, but that's because you can't believe what you are seeing. You do believe it, but you don't want to.

A great performance from our Romanian actors. I loved the girls and the fat policeman. A great performance from the other actors as well, but in the end, they just fade away in front of the script and directing. Great job! I want more. Actually, I don't. I want a bit less. I am still shook up.