The Jammed

In this low budget picture, shot on HD, a 20 something Melbourne insurance worker becomes involved in the search for a victim of the sex slave racket. It's not really a thriller or a social document. Its dramatic focus is split between the prostitute/prisoners and the insurance worker, so the viewer tends to become attached and then detached. I think I was supposed to care about the insurance worker's personal life, which I was, a bit, but not that much. More importantly, I wanted to get to know the prostitute girls better as people, but there didn't seem to be time. Saskia Burmeister and Sun Park are excellent as two of the enslaved girls. Emma Lung is much less convincing. The music is dull, and includes that modern penchant for angelic choirs underscoring hideous physical abuse. Why? And what is this film actually about? The sex slaves? The insurance agent? The iniquity of the trafficking itself? Another couple of drafts of the script would maybe have sharpened up the focus. Nevertheless, it's not bad little picture.

What a shockingly stunning film! It's still going around and around in my head and it's a struggle to know what to write.

It's always a shock to discover that films like these are based on real events, I like to think that people are better than that. But it's a well written, superbly acted, thrilling ride that doesn't sugar coat any of the issues. Emma Lung, Veronica Sywak, Saskia Burmeister and Sun Park give emotional, brave performances. Not for the faint-hearted, but so compelling and important. Just don't hold your breath for a happy ending.

Full credit to Dee McLachlan for a remarkably real and moving film experience.

The Jammed has created much controversy here in Melbourne, Australia - where it was shot.

For some bizarre reason it was rejected by the Melbourne Int'l Film Festival (MIFF) organisers this year - very strange since they brag they promote and support the Australian Film Industry.

It has been given a VERY LIMITED cinema release - 10 days in one cinema only.

It has not been entered in the 2007 AFI awards (probably because the makers have to pay a $1000 entry fee or because of deadline issues...).

Some film critics have labelled it a dog and others are waxing lyrical on it as being the best Australian film of 2007.

I saw it today in a sold out session and although sitting in row 2 - i found it to be a very well made and acted film. Not a masterpiece but still worth seeing.

Considering I sat through some questionable films at the recent MIFF and sure to sit through a few duds at the AFI festival starting this weekend - I am surprised a film of this quality - and examining a very important topic - has been treated so poorly here in Melbourne.

A stripped back film with no thrills, but story driven. A reality check on human trading and those who risk intervening.

Hard to know this is based on true events. A horrifying reality.

I saw this movie with two girlfriends while on holiday in Avoca Beach. This was the only movie on offer at that time so we almost had to see it. Though I am maybe (some would say) to young (though I am mature for my age) to understand the full extent of the movie, but from what I do understand it was excellently made. It was moving and a real deep piece of work. The actors- though lesser known- were well cast and the writing went where it needed to go. The ending is by no means happy or satisfactory in the sense of fairytale endings, but rather is the sad reality of the situation. I was silent for about half an hour after because I needed to think and let the movie sink in. I recommend it for people who enjoy moving pieces about real issues.