Call + Response

Musicians and filmmakers SHOULD use their talents to call attention to issues of injustice. In this, I am in full agreement with this film. I also am in full agreement that human slavery and trafficking are among the most unethical of acts towards our fellow men and women. But this movie was a miss for me. It felt like too many people in the wrong room, grasping to make connections that weren't really advancing any argument beyond the obvious: Human trafficking is bad. We sing about it. Music became an element the detracted from an important documentary, sensationalizing an issue that should stand as cold and simple fact--this should have been an act of journalism.

Some of the music is very nice though, and the journalistic elements are extraordinarily moving. But by far the most impressive scenes of the movie involve Cornel West's explanation of "the connection that doesn't quite work", drawing a history of American music through its heritage of slavery, which is at once powerful and downright entertaining. It's like a beautiful equation of the universe that just doesn't work. (Mass*Acceleration)/"hamburger helper" ≠ "how to end world hunger".

I would say the best way to describe this movie, this documentary of a movie would be that it is most similar to some of the programs seen on the History Channel talking about sex slaves and human trafficking. I can't remember any of the programs specifically by name, but they do have them every now and then. I wouldn't be surprised if other extended cable channels also did their own works on these topics.

The material similar to those programmings found in this movie include government officials, law enforcement, journalists, and public interest groups citing facts and offering their knowledge of slaves and human trafficking as commodities for cheap/free labor, as child soldiers (noted especially in Africa), and sexual services. Victims also share their stories. What differs from the movie and the programs I've seen was Call + Response is backed by a lot of singers and bands who play to bring about more awareness of these issues and to help solve those issues. The final thing different is depending on where you see this, you may get pamphlets/handouts giving you links to how you can help stop human trafficking.

I felt the movie is actually well done. Don't get me wrong, I felt every bit compelled and emotional as when I saw these issues presented on cable, but the "seen this before" feel just made it feel like more of the same.