Trade

"Trade" is an incredible film on many levels. The acting is superb by both the kids, Jorge (Cesar Ramos) and Adriana (Paulina Gaitan), as well as Kevin Kline. The cinematography was incredibly well thought out, and added to the depth of the message of the film. The film is successful in showing the raw dichotomy of the problems of suburbia-America and the horrifying crime that claims the second highest yield of money out of illegal activities just behind drugs.

Yes, this film is disturbing. It unyieldingly shows the gruesome truth of this business. Yes, it draws tears, as many flowed down my own face during these few hours of watching. But I must say that the truth and the tears stirred up within me a desire for change. A desire for justice. Is that not what true film is meant to be about? To bring forth revelation of self discovery, desires, dreams. To cause the viewer to step away from the film a changed person. This is exactly what "Trade" did for me.

I read multiple reviews about the movie "Trade" last night after viewing the film for myself. I discovered comments like, "hard to find it entertaining" and "playing up the terrorizing of the women detracted from the film."

Trade is not a film to entertain. The emotion evoked from this film was designed to have a purpose. The purpose was the change the viewer's perspective out of our cookie cutter American world view, into the grisly truth of sex trafficking that occurs around the world, as well as on our doorstep.

The viewer is invited by this disturbing film to not to be satisfied with ignorance, but to light the fire within them to want to make a difference.

I had never heard of this movie and just stumbled on to it by accident. The story was very powerful and meaningful. The acting was absolutely awesome, especially by the two major stars playing the parts of brother and sister, more of the younger girl, but that is not to take anything away from the part of her brother Jorge. He was outstanding. Also, the part of Veronica was superb. She made her scenes gripping. Especially one, and you'll know which one I mean just by watching the movie. Your jaw will drop just like mine did and it will stay with you even after the movie. This is a must see. It is in subtitle and English, so it it easy to follow. Oh yeah, Kevin Kline was an excellent surprise.

Based on an article written by Peter Landesman, who also wrote the story and co-wrote the screenplay with Jose Rivera ('The Motorcycle Diaries'), TRADE literally forces us to experience the cruel, vicious international market for sex slaves. It is brutally captured on film by director Marco Kreuzpaintner ('Summer Storm') in a manner that spares nothing to unveil the atrocities created by the many people form all countries who ply this trade. It is a tough film to watch, but it is also an important film to see: the public MUST be made aware of this criminal activity that robs the lives of children and adults around the globe.

The setting is Mexico City and in the poor sector lives a fatherless family supported by the oldest son Jorge (Cesar Ramos) whose 'occupation' is petty crime that allows him to bring in money for his mother and his beloved sister Adriana (Paulina Gaitan). We see the abduction of a beautiful young Polish girl Weronica (Alicja Bachleda-Curus) in the Russian sector of the city. Soon after Adriana, trying out her newest bicycle gift from Jorge, is likewise abducted. The girls (and boys) are kept in filthy apartments awaiting border crossings into the US where they will be shipped to New Jersey for sale after being advertised for auction on the Internet. Jorge discovers the absence of his sister, traces her to the Russian sector where he sees the filth in which the victims are kept, but where he also encounters a Texas policeman Ray Sheridan (Kevin Kline) who is continuing his years long search for his daughter. The two 'meet' and join in the chase for the lost girls. And it is the manner in which Jorge and Ray gradually become friends and the clever way in which they cooperate that forms the rest of the story.

Yes, the film is overlong and borders a bit too closely on soap opera techniques, but the acting is so committed and the story is news so important that any flaw in the film can be forgiven because it opens the door to a crime that is all too unfamiliar to most citizens. It is a true story and therein lies the terror. It should be seen. Grady Harp

I attended a screening of "Trade" at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival. All week, films had been relatively disappointing. And then this powerful work came along.

It probably is sufficient to say that its subject is child trafficking, in this case, from Mexico to the US. Audiences will recognize Kevin Kline. The other leads are a 13 year-old girl (Paulina Gaitan) and her 17 year-old brother (Cesar Ramos). The film rests largely on the shoulders of these two innocents, and it's on the basis of their performances, even more than the subject matter, that I consider this a must-see film.

Check out this pedigree. "Trade" was written by Jose Rivera (who wrote "The Motorcycle Diaries"). It is based on a New York Times Magazine article. It was originally supposed to be directed by Roland Emmerich (who wrote, directed, and produced "The Day After Tomorrow"). But Emmerich had a conflict, so he ended up producing it along with Rosilyn Heller (who produced "American Heart," a favorite of mine starring Jeff Bridges and Edward Furlong). In turn Marco Kreutzpaintner was hired to direct, a German filmmaker who had a connection to Emmerich through another producer. It was a fortuitous set of circumstances. It's a $12 million indie backed by German funds, Emmerich's own pockets, and Lions Gate, who will be distributing it.

This is quite a moving film and, although it's easy to argue the case, it does not exploit the kids itself in its effort to expose the horrors of child exploitation. While it has some Hollywood moments thrown in for commercial appeal, it's still as compelling as any film I've seen recently. The acting is frighteningly real. A good part of the film is a bit of a road movie where Kline and the boy bond -- he needs a male role model, Kline's life on the road is a lonely existence, you know the drill. Kline's relationship with the boy reminded me of his pairing with Hayden Christensen in "Life as a House." He's good at it, and it's a casting coup that helps put the icing on the cake. The other part of the film focuses on the harsh reality of child trafficking and follows several victims through their ordeals. But Kreutzpaintner's narrative never loses sight of its heartbreaking subject matter.

Director Kreutzpaintner and producer Heller were there for a Q&A. I asked about the casting. He said the boy and girl were found during auditions in Mexico City. He was just the second one they saw. They kept looking, but eventually came back to him. He had never acted before. The girl had done a bit before, but not much. What an auspicious debut. These are two to watch.

There are many "oh my God" moments. It ultimately is a "message" film in that it exposes the horrors of child trafficking, but it's also made for commercial appeal and should resonate with the larger audience. It's hard to pull off this kind of film and make it work. How does one entertain without hitting the viewer with a sledgehammer? It's a delicate balance, and this one weighs in perfectly.

1 Border patrol does not put Polish people back into Mexico! 2 people do not call in Mexico with 4 digits. 3 there is no web page with such info as shown in movie, 4 Iam tired of idiots who don't portray the real world then no one learns of issue of great importance

5 someone does not get kidnapped in front of police and a page,

6 collect calls to Poland do not happen,

7 I have never seen such stupid acting, stupid direction

this movie was a waste of money.

the scenery was great, but there are freeways even in Mexico and freeways in the USA, that are not depicted. I've never seen such a juvenile story line.