Sex Traffic

I came across this film while flicking through the TV channels one late evening. Funnily enough, my wife and I thought that we might have a night of romance before watching this film. However, after nearly thirty minutes of watching the terror unleashed on the women in this film, any thoughts of sex quickly disappeared from our minds. The film portrayed the truly tragic story of young east European women sold into the sex trade. After living in England for many years, there were some chilling reminders for me, such as the brothel in a normal residential street, and the east European gangs that operate in London's underground stations - all of which I have seen with my own eyes! Perhaps the most terrifying detail in this film was the level of sophistication of the gangs, resident in almost every European country, with far reaching contacts in the community. I would advise everyone to watch this film, as it is chilling reminder of the level of double standards in this world, and how corporations in war torn countries operate with total impunity, under the premise of "we're helping them with their reconstruction".

This is what director David Yates was doing before the last Harry Poter and I believe that he is worth being looked attentively, because this is a very different kind of movie and he is doing very well. This is a docu-drama about a very serious social and human problem for the countries in Eastern Europe and for the West as well, the human trafficking and sexual slavery that throws each year thousands of young girls aspiring to a better life in the hands of prostitution rings all over the 'civilized' world.

The script is well written, with a credible story, even if the big corporation involvement part was a little too conventional. Acting is clean and efficient, and the mix of nationalities and languages is very credible. Directing is made with a sure hand, locations are well and realistically filmed and this TV movie makes a strong and moving case for a problem that should not be ignored.

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.

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 guess we just haven't been out of our caves long enough if these depraved specimens of human kind still walk among us. Whereas I could happily watch the traffickers neck deep in an ant nest there was one aspect that seemed a little odd. The price paid for these women seemed way low considering the ROI. I am naive enough to hope for some black ops assassin squad to clean up some of these slavers and at least put some mortal fear into the rest. Shame is that, as usual, those in power are usually enmeshed in this disgusting tapestry. An excellent film that is unfortunately wasted on the likes of us. We will be appalled then dismayed to the point of tears then look for the nearest comedy.