Fragments of Daniela

A friend of mine loaned me this film a couple of days ago as I was researching the sex-trafficking underworld for a paper. And I must say that the film is much more powerful than the Hollywood film "Trade" or "Taken". As an art house film, the cinematography is extraordinary. The film plays like a Cassavetes film; the performances are powerful and the texture meditative on tone. I was blown-away. The topic here is specific to Eastern-European girls, thus it is specific to that world. It does make the attempt to comprehensively tie the international nature of trafficking.I have found it difficult to view any filmic narratives that effectively encapsulate this serious subject matter. Documentary films covering this topic, especially those on the BBC, have been more effective. Films like "Trade" and "Taken" often sensationalize the theme for the sake of commerce. I urge this film to be seen as it is the only one thus far to succeed in conveying it as a powerful narrative using cinematic apparatus.

This movie was the original sex-trafficking exposure movie. This was the first, Taken, Trade and the ABC Television series with Donald Sutherland were all after this one. The Only bad thing is that it did not get enough publicity. There was a lot of research that must of been done to make this film, all of the different countries that were used to identify where the whole story of the 'sex for trade' came from. Hat's off to the director. I don't see any other movies in the IMDb network that he has done. Only in google. I would like to see more of his work. I wonder if he has some more of these movies or TV shows he has made in this same category.

I saw this movie at its preview in Los Angeles, as part of an independent film festival. I was familiar with the topic of sex trafficking, having traveled to south east Asia, so this film resonated with me. It deals with sex trafficking of eastern European women into the US, a subject that was long neglected by the media but is now gaining attention.

The lead actress in this film is great, although she is unknown. The story revolves around a sports reporter who stumbles on a trafficking ring and tries to use his media connection to expose the mafia behind the ring.

Well-written and acted, and a very good introduction to a prevalent international crime against women.