Opening Day: 10 January 2008

Synopsis:

Every year more than 800,000 people are transported across international borders against their will tobecome enslaved in the global epidemic of sex trafficking. Lionsgate Films’ Trade dares to expose the ugly truths of this modern day scourge by presenting a deeply moving story about a girl and young woman facing the brutal horrors of this dehumanizing predicament, and of the boy and man who risk everything to try and rescue them.

Movie Review:

It appears that this Marco Kruezpaintner-directed drama did not get very kind reviews when it was on limited release in the United States of America last year. Critics thought that the serious issues of human trafficking and sex slavery have been thoughtlessly exploited in this 119-minute movie. The gritty style of filmmaking didn’t work for the American critics either: they thought it was more suitable for a crime investigation TV series. While the trailer showed much potential for a great drama, we had to watch it ourselves to see how it actually fares. And to our pleasant surprise, we didn’t find it that bad.

Based on Peter Landesman's a 2004 New York Times Magazine cover story about sex slaves, the movie centers on a young Mexican girl Adriana who unfortunately gets kidnapped by sex traffickers and lands up in the suburban New Jersey. It is up to her brother Jorge to cross the treacherous border of Mexico into the United States to save her, with the help of Ray Sheridan, a Texas policeman who has had a painful experience with human trafficking as well.

Kevin Kline (De-Lovely, The Pink Panther), being the only face you’d recognize in the movie, plays the role of the righteous cop with credibility. His portrayal of a man who is determined to find out the truth behind the horrible crime can be easily sympathized with. His veteran performance is nicely complemented by Cesar Ramos, who plays Jorge. The young actor’s raw energy translates movingly on screen, and when the two banter over little things like what music to play in the car, you can’t help but smile to yourself.

While the young girls who play the kidnapped victims probably didn’t have an easy time filming this movie, their efforts definitely paid off, considering how disturbingly engaged they made us. Paulina Gaitan, who plays Adriana, has a wide-eyed fearful look that will make you angry with all the human traffickers out there. Polish actress singer Alicja Bachleda-Curus, who plays a fellow victim, has less screen time than Gaitan, but her aggressive and passionate performance will make you remember this young actress for quite a while.

The theme this movie wishes to explore isn’t anything new by today’s standards, and it definitely doesn’t shed any new light on the increasingly unsolvable crime. So when director Kruezpaintner (Summer Storm) makes a movie that involves melodramatic moments, car chases and a finale that makes for a good showdown on a TV series, we understand why some critics were left outraged. However, as a movie, the human drama is played out nicely, and there are plenty of nail-biting sequences that will make you sit up. Watch out for a scene where the victims manage to escape from the kidnappers and call home to find out some devastating news; and another one where the clock counts down during an online sex slave bidding site.

Sure, the movie may give you new insights about the human trafficking business (if you are learned and knowledgeable already), but it is still a powerful and moving human drama well worth your time.

Movie Rating:



(A potent and touching thriller drama about the terrible crimes that are happening right now)

Review by John Li