I Am Still Here

As a sexual violence crisis worker and victim advocate, this movie hit me hard. What some have seen as poor acting, I saw as innocence played incredibly well by mere children. I felt the main character portrayed the confusion and brokenness so well. By midway through the movie, I'd forgotten I was watching a reenactment. What some saw as a so-called "romantic" relationship between a victim and her abusive captor, played to me as the exact words a pimp would use to reel in and keep girls under lock and key. So much of this movie mirrored actual accounts I myself have heard. It hurt my heart, watching it play out with such young girls. Sadly; it happens just like this movie portrayed, in every city, everyday.

I'm a grown man who's seen plenty of drama films but this one hit a nerve with me. It made me angry, and I was wondering "what can I do to help trafficking victims?". Excellent acting by the child lead. Very hard watch at times, but it had me hooked to the end. If you're anything like me, it'll leave you feeling that our governments collectively need to a do a lot more to protect children from this evil of trafficking. And if that was the film makers goal, then it was a noble one and mission accomplished. Hopefully more people watch this film and are left with the same impression. Excellent film.

This film is a very earnest, sincere and sober attempt to tackle one of the most sensitive issues in society today, child sex trafficking. There are many positive points about this film which, on balance, make it well worth watching. The story is told honestly enough that it gets across the ugliness and the brutal reality that sex-enslaved minors live through, yet tactfully enough that it is not distasteful or exploitative of the minors that are the subject of the film. However, in the hands of a first time director/writer, working with a cast of mostly young, inexperienced actors, some scenes fall short of the impact the script clearly intended.

The story centers around a young prostitute, Layla (Ciara Jiana) who wakes up in a hospital after being beaten and left for dead by her pimp. In flashbacks, she recounts her history to a detective, (Erika Ringor) where as a 10 year old girl, she (played by Aliyah Conley) is abducted from her suburban neighborhood in Anytown, USA. She spends the next seven years of her life being moved around the country, along with a handful of other young victims who are introduced to her as her new "sisters". They are systematically drugged, psychologically manipulated, tortured, exploited and sold by a brutal and cunning, yet charismatic pimp. (Johnny Rey Diaz)

The story is a distillation of true events taken from interviews of sex trafficking survivors conducted by the films writer/director, Mischa Marcus. It is a raw subject that will likely not appeal to a wide audience, but being the important issue that it is, this is a movie that needed to be made.

The standout performance in this film is given by Johnny Rey Diaz as the sociopathic, manipulative pimp who, through a combination of drugging, coercion, physical violence, intimidation and psychological manipulation, keeps his brothel of young slaves imprisoned and even cooperative, seeing him as a father figure and protector. Diaz's convincingly chilling performance makes it easy to imagine how such monsters can exist and his visceral portrayal is the glue that holds the whole film together. Also very impressive as the young Layla, is Aliyah Conley in an extraordinarily challenging role for such a young actress. There are some other fine performances in supporting roles by Erika Ringor as a compassionate detective investigating Layla's case and an unsettlingly sympathetic john played by Jeff Hatch that reminds the audience that the sickness of pedophilia is often easily disguised behind a likable, even seemingly noble exterior.

At times, however, some performances, dialogue and directing choices veer into melodramatic embellishment which gives this film a made-for-tv movie-of-the-week cheesiness in certain places that just doesn't work with the delicate subject matter. These schmaltzy moments are sometimes the unavoidable byproduct of an eager and sincere rookie director making a low budget passion project where there isn't the experience, time or money to correct the bits that get a little over cooked. Being familiar with the world of micro-budget filmmaking, I am very forgiving of such flaws in an otherwise good movie, but more demanding audience members might feel a bit let down when such a serious story falls short of a Hollywood caliber delivery.

The photography, performance, soundtrack, direction and even the script on this story is so poorly developed that any true story behind won't get justice out of this abomination.

Good evening, everyone! I'm Mr. C Reviewer, and tonight we'll be diving into the film I Am Still Here. I had the opportunity to watch the movie on fawesome. This movie originally premiered on August 5, 2017, and has a runtime of 1 hour and 44 minutes. It is rated for viewers aged 18 and older. Notably, parts of the film were filmed in California, USA. The estimated budget for I Am Still Here was around $250,000. As someone on the autism spectrum, I found subtitles to be incredibly helpful, greatly enhancing my ability to follow the dialogue throughout the film. The film was both directed and written by Mischa Marcus.

Summary: At just ten years old, Layla's life takes a devastating turn when her simple act of kindness inadvertently leads to her abduction.

Review: -The film's opening, featuring Layla's discovery and subsequent hospitalization, sets a powerful tone for the narrative. We then encounter Layla at ten years old in an ordinary suburban environment before her abduction, creating a stark contrast between her innocence and the imminent threat of child trafficking. This juxtaposition captivates viewers and exposes the harsh reality of human trafficking lurking in plain sight. The portrayal of kindness morphing into betrayal is particularly striking, underscoring how easily children can fall victim to such heinous crimes, often with the involvement of other children in their abduction. I appreciated how the movie raises awareness about human trafficking, highlights trauma's impact on victims, critiques societal indifference, offers hope for recovery, and encourages active engagement against these injustices. The film's architecture skilfully highlights Layla's intense journey, building an emotional climax that profoundly connects with viewers. Through the use of flashbacks, the narrative unveils Layla's past experiences, which are essential for comprehending her character and the trauma she faces. The casting choices in the film were commendable, as the lead actors delivered some powerful performances that infused their roles with emotional depth. Johnny's portrayal of a manipulative pimp stood out, effectively capturing the chilling essence of a sociopathic character who embodies the predatory traits of exploiting the vulnerable, eliciting both fear and sympathy from the audience. Aliyah's performance as young Layla was equally impressive; she adeptly expressed innocence and confusion in the face of her traumatic experiences, showcasing remarkable talent for her age. Although there were moments of genuine emotion throughout the film, some scenes veered into melodrama and lacked authenticity, with certain actors struggling to fully convey the gravity of their roles or deliver lines convincingly enough to sustain immersion in such a weighty narrative. The soundtrack significantly amplifies the emotional resonance of pivotal scenes, while the raw and unsettling sound effects complement the film's depiction of trauma and suffering. This deliberate choice in sound design deeply immerses audiences in Layla's journey, rendering her experiences more visceral and impactful.

-The film presented an impressively realistic portrayal of gore, arguably one of the most authentic I have encountered in cinema thus far. I appreciated its cinematography, which utilized a diverse array of shot types to effectively enhance the narrative. However, I felt that close-ups were somewhat overused throughout the film. I was relieved that some scenes were not explicitly shown; instead, they were skilfully implied. The gentle lighting established a nuanced atmosphere that I found appealing; however, while all the essential elements in each frame were distinctly visible, some parts could have benefited from additional brightness. Personally, I often adjust my screen's brightness for a better viewing experience, which proved particularly helpful during this film.

-I enjoyed encountering several characters in the film, particularly Detective Amy, who provided support for Layla. I appreciated how the narrative revealed the backstories of some characters and explored the circumstances surrounding their abduction within the movie.

-I appreciated the film's ending for its depiction of survival and elements of recovery; however, I believe it is essential to present more nuanced representations that accurately reflect the ongoing challenges faced by survivors after trafficking.

I rate each film I watch out of 10 and for this one, I give it a 8 Remember this was what I thought about the movie personally and I suggest that you give it a go for yourself.