Human Trafficking

In Prague, Czech Republic, the single mother Helena (Isabelle Blais) is seduced by a successful handsome man and travels with him to spend a weekend in Vienna, Austria; in Kiev, Ukraine, the sixteen-year-old Nadia (Laurence Leboeuf) is selected by a model agency and travels to the United States with the other selected candidates; in Manila, Philippines, the twelve-year-old American tourist Annie Gray (Sarah-Jeanne Labrosse) is abducted in front of her parents. In common, the girls become victims of a powerful international network of sex traffickers leaded by the powerful Sergei Karpovich (Robert Carlyle). In New York, after the third death of young Eastern European prostitutes, the obstinate Russian-American NYPD agent Kate Morozov (Mira Sorvino) convinces the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Chief Bill Meehan (Donald Sutherland) to hire her, promising him that she would fight against this type of crime and that he would not regret.

"Human Trafficking" is the third great movie that I have watched about this sad reality. "Lilja 4-ever" and "Anjos do Sol" are extremely pessimist and realistic, but focused in the life of only one character. "Human Trafficking" gives a big picture how these gangs operate, following the drama of three lead characters. Mira Sorvino is wonderful, as usual, and her final speech about this profitable slavery of the Twentieth-First Century and the sexual tourism is very realistic and touching. The direction is excellent, the screenplay is very well written and the whole cast deserves to be congratulated for their magnificent performances. My vote is nine.

Title (Brazil): "Tráfico Humano" ("Human Traficking")

The statistics are shocking. The story is grim. And the biggest market for women and children sex slaves is the United States, much to our shame. Every person should see this movie. I hope ABC, CBS, or NBC will pick it up and show it so all can see it, not just ones who have cable. Keep in mind, the type of person who can afford to do this are primarily upper middle class professional men who have nefarious appetites to do the worst possible acts of mankind. The last few minutes are the most important of the entire film where Mira Sorvino's character states clearly the facts and why this is allowed to go on, because there is a market for it particularly here in the United States. God have mercy on humankind.

I was blown away by the production value and performances of HUMAN TRAFFICKING. Unlike most Lifetime movies, this one actually hits the viewer between the eyes with its raw, unflinching telling of various women's stories of trafficking across international borders for sex slave labour.

Loosely inspired by actual victims' stories, the women range from 12 years old to late thirties. They are tourists, single moms, women in bad relationships that need help, even a young girl looking for fame and fortune in the modeling industry.

The formula for the traffickers is simple: recruit women and girls that are desperate to get out of their current living situations, desperate to get a better paying job, desperate to go to the U.S. for a better life; make them believe the traffickers can deliver this promise, and submit their passports and papers to them. Once the traffickers have the girls and their documents, they can do anything they want to them. Some get moved around Europe, others end up in the U.S. all as sex slaves.

Robert Carlyle gives a riveting performance as Sergei Karpovich, the kingpin of the trafficking business. He's ruthless and cruel, yet intriguing to watch at the same time. He sets up his "businesses" to look like legitimate ventures, while operating a sex ring behind the scenes.

One thing that makes the character interesting is his smoothness when dealing with his doctor and the I.C.E. agents, while showing a sadistic evil side towards his employees and slaves. Definitely a wolf in sheep's clothing.

Mira Sorvino also gives a gritty performance as Kate Morozov, the I.C.E. agent that pursues Karpovich relentlessly as he builds his sex empire. Sorvino's conviction in getting these people caught and tried almost pushes her over the edge of sanity.

The scenes are gritty and unflinching. The material is difficult to view at times, but is well worth it in the end; in order to understand the universe in which these people operate, and the despair the victims face each day of their lives in captivity.

The film also addresses the problem of the market for these traffickers: they are doctors, lawyers, neighbours, relatives. Regular white-collar people that pay for these slaves' services. As long as there is a market, there will be sex slave traffickers.

See this film in its entirety at least once. It is unlike any Lifetime movie you have ever seen.

I only wish it was theatrically released for more exposure, so those who don't have access to CATV or Lifetime TV can also see it.

John Kotynek

Given my line of work, this issue is something that I am very aware of. This film has strong performances and has one surprising twist (which I was not expecting - and I normally see these coming from a mile!). However, the most important point of this film is that it raises the issue - although to show the true deprivation is nigh impossible given this topic. Let's just say hell is would be considered mild. Hence, the topic can only ever be glossed over and be more of a decaffeinated version of reality. (For a slightly more gritty film on this topic, see 'The Jammed', if you can - it's an Australian Film).

It is impossible to truly represent this crime. No one can make a film (legally anyway) that shows girls (and boys) being raped by 20+ men a day for money... Yet that is exactly what happens, day and night. This is no lie. I have seen the effects of this. As you read this, more than a few girls and boys in the world is experiencing that against their wishes. A head in the sand approach does not solve the problem. The only way to solve the problem is to get men to realize that five seconds of their fun should not come at the expense of degrading someone against their will. Are men really that shallow and inadequate? (Oh, yes I am a man!) Men, if you need, just go to the bathroom...

Oh, and finally, to respond to the post by "e_pipersberg". Yawn. I wouldn't rate his post given that his sports predication was so way off as well. Seems he can't critique anything that comes close to being called accurate. Then again, maybe the topic was a little too close to the truth for him...

I found the movie very compelling as it followed several different story lines, exposing many different facets to the sex trafficking industry. The fact that all these story lines were linked to one king pin running an international organization was pure Hollywood, but it allowed for drama and suspense as he was tracked by the feds. The wrap up and conclusion was also too easy, but again the mission of this film was to educate and spotlight abuse in an entertaining forum. This movie delivered.

On top of this, I especially appreciated the way the graphic scenes were composed. It was hard to watch, ugly, and grotesque. It wasn't played for sex appeal, or lurid fascination. It was ugly. Completely appropriate to the reality of the women, children, and victims of this abuse.