Doing Money

I've just watched this powerful dramatisation of a true case of modern day sex slavery in the UK and Ireland. Unfortunately it is not a rare event. It can occur under the noses of people living in apartments or homes who may not be aware of what is going on next door to them.

Anca Dumitra plays a young Romanian woman, Ana, who is kidnapped in London and forced into sex slavery with the threat that if she doesn't comply with her abductors her mother will be killed. With two other young women she is moved around to different locations.

This is a powerful story which should awaken a desire in people to know what is really happening in their neighbourhood. Anca plays the part with such conviction that we feel affected when her humanity is being slowly taken from her by vile cowards.

My gosh what a horrible thing people go through. This movie is all too important and unfortunately a story that not one but 5 million girls and women can relate too. Sit your daughters, sisters and even sons down, when they are age ready and watch it. we cannot let this be an invisible problem anymore.

I watched this tonight. I've cried loads. It's awful what human beings do to each other. This was very well made and I'm still shaken up by her story.

You would have hoped it was not possible for a young woman to be kidnapped on the streets of London and forced into slavery under threat to her family; but sadly this does happen, and 'Doing Money' dramatises one such real life story. It's an utterly horrific tale; the film is direct and un-fancy, but the sense that what we see is something close to pure evil is never far away, and the psychological hold that the perpetrators have over their victims is convincingly portrayed. In this case, the the pimps went to jail; but even to someone like me who normally favours a liberal approach to sentencing, their three-year sentences seem wholly inadequate. In telling this story, 'Doing Money' is truly shocking, but and essential viewing.

We all hear stories about human sex trafficking - but it doesn't always feel real. This film brings the reality to home. And it's necessarily grim viewing. Ana is a happy Romanian immigrant working in a low wage job in London. She is kidnapped and taken to Ireland and had to pay off her 'purchase price' by 'doing money' - a eumpamism for having sex with willing paying customers. It's horrible - but it demonstrates that slavery is alive and well and man (or in this case woman) can go to extreme and inhuman lengths for personal profit. Doesn't make you feel good about the world, nor should it. But it needs to be watched.