Sold

I flew for a major airline for 35 years, I am now 79 years old. As in the Johnny Cash song, I have been everywhere, well most everywhere.

One of our destinations was Bombay, India now known as Mumbai. In the early 1970's, I was able to fly there with my seniority as a copilot. Bombay was full of interesting things to visit and see. The red light district was known as "The Cages", You could walk one of the major streets which bordered The Cages. I knew what the business was that was going on inside but I never understood the reality of the business until I saw the movie "SOLD". I am so happy that some people made this movie and that I was able to see it before I am no longer around. Thank You for the movie.

SOLD is an uncomfortable watch. A 13-year-old girl is repeatedly raped and as the viewer, we have to sit back and witness it, glancing away from the screen because at times it's too difficult to fathom, or perhaps taking brief looks while shuffling in our seats trying hard to focus on something else, just to get through the movie.

The film is based on a novel of the same name by Patricia McCormick. It centres on a young Nepali girl who is sold by her father unknowingly to a brothel in India. She is taken here against her will, beaten, tortured and raped until she finally escapes.

An estimated 20,000 children are trafficked from Nepal every year, a figure that is rising. It is not an issue exclusive to the country, but a form of human slavery that exists all over the world; a subject that Director Jeffrey Brown aims to raise awareness about through his debut film.

There is little respite, just a few moments of joy when the children of the brothel are given brief opportunities to be kids such as flying kites and dropping waterbombs on unsuspecting passers by made from condoms – but there's no 'happy ending' to look forward to. Life for these women is depicted just as it is in reality – difficult, desperate, depressing…all the negatives you can think of.

Who is this film for? It doesn't exist to 'entertain' or make viewers come out and think 'I loved that film' – it serves a different purpose. One that we often overlook in filmmaking. It has the power to change things. SOLD will make you reassess your own situation, spark discussion and raise awareness. It may even give hope to the women around the world who are in this situation as there are plans to screen it in schools, colleges and centres to educate people. At the very least it will give you an insight into a world you will never experience – something it does with passion and sensitivity.

SOLD takes a while to digest but it's a film that is bold, brave and necessary: something you can't say about the majority of movies that are churned out of Hollywood and Bollywood.

Seeing sex trafficking through the eyes of a once innocent girl can mobilize people and nations to stop it - that's the belief that drives this astonishing movie deep into your heart. Along the way, it slays myths: that girls and women face these dangers willingly and deserve only shame; that trading money for sex is no crime, and that the damage of sexual slavery can ever be undone. Anyone who has witnessed this searing movie will know better.

When we first meet 13-year-old Lakshmi, a bright, spirited, shyly beautiful Nepalese girl growing up in a remote mountain village, she seems far from danger. Loved by a mother who knows only self-sacrifice, Lakshmi seems destined for more. She's in school, works hard, but likes what young girls like – her kite, toe rings, sweet cakes, music, and dancing.

We see trouble, too - her stepfather drinks and gambles; her mother's prayers are no match for his addictions. We know that other village families have tin roofs, and that Lakshmi's family needs one. So begins a tale with no end.

Be brave and watch this movie. Pass it on by helping to fund SOLD's distribution. Be bolder still and help end the cycle – one life, one law, one nation at a time.

Sold is an excellent movie that discusses the issues of human trafficking in South Asia through following the story of one young girl.

While at times it was hard to watch due to the nature of the scenes and the age of the actors, it opened my eyes to a reality that is happening to millions of people everyday.

Shot in Nepal and India the beauty of the landscapes contrasts with the horrors of the storyline (however, there are some light hearted scenes to give the audience a break).

This movie does more that just tell a story it is a vehicle for change as it sheds a light on one of the biggest human rights issues of our time : Human trafficking.

I happened to find "Sold" by random luck, and after having read the synopsis of the movie, I decided to give it a watch, because the synopsis sounded like a storyline that could make for an emotional and interesting movie.

It happened to turn out that "Sold" was quite entertaining, especially because it was very believable, and it had some very convincing performances from the cast. Of course, it deals with a rather disturbing topic, but something that actually does take place around the world. And the fact that this is something that could very well happen around the world adds authenticity to the movie.

"Sold" is the type of movie that gets under your skin and sticks with you for a long, long time. And a big round of applause should go out to writer Joseph Kwong, as well as writer and director Jeffrey D. Brown for the result that they accomplished with this movie.

The cast in "Sold" really performed amazingly well in this movie, and that statement applies to everyone on the cast ensemble. I was especially impressed with Niyar Saikia (playing Lakshmi), as she at that young age carried the movie so well and performed really well. Initially I was a little bit hesitant about Gillian Anderson being in the movie, but it turned out that she surprised with her performance here. It should also be said that Sushmita Mukherjee (playing Mumtaz).

While you might be appalled by what happens throughout the course of the movie, remember that it is just a movie. But the impact of the storyline and the events portrayed herein have that much more sway to them as you know that things like this actually happen across the world.

If you enjoy dramas that are based on real life events, then "Sold" is definitely a movie that you should take the time to sit down and watch.