Videos to challenge and inspire

Here are a few video resources for information, education, prayer, and action!  Please be aware that most of these films are not advisable for younger audiences, and use discretion.

FULL LENGTH MOVIES AND MINI-SERIES:

1) The Whistleblower, directed by Larysa Kondracki and starring Rachel Weiz. August 2011 release. Highlights the sex trade in post-war Bosnia and the UN’s role in the whole story. Has generated a special screening for the UN (this October) which will be followed by a discussion of the issues brought forth in the film. See more at: http://www.deadline.com/2011/08/un-screening-bosnian-sex-trafficking-drama-the-whistleblower/

2) Lilya 4-Ever, written and directed by Lukas Moodysson. 2002 release. Estonian girl is trafficked into prostitution in Sweden. Spiritual themes make for interesting discussion.  http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0300140/

3) Amazing Grace, directed by Michael Apted and starring Ioan Gruffudd and Albert Finney. The abolitionist William Wilberforce maneuvers his way through Parliament, endeavoring to end the British transatlantic slave trade. 2006 release.

4) Human Trafficking, a two part mini-series directed by Christian Duguay and starring Donald Sutherland & Mira Sorvino. 2005 release. Details 3 consecutive (and linked) trafficking stories. Set in the USA, Prague, Philippines and Ukraine. One of the best depictions of reality.

5) Trade, directed by Marco Kreuzpaintner and starring Kevin Kline. 2008 release. Set in Mexico and USA.

6) Sex Traffic, directed by David Yates and starring Anamaria Marinca and John Simm. 2004 release. A two part British-Canadian TV drama.

DRAMAS:

1) Stolen. BBC1 Drama, directed by Justin Chadwick and starring Damian Lewis. Aired on BBC1 July 2011. (They are working on finding out when and how non-UK residents can view it – I’ll keep you posted).

DOCUMENTARIES:

1) Very Young Girls – Rachel Lloyd / GEMS production. Details the commercial sex trade in the USA. Please see the GEMS website for more info. Very Young Girls is available for rental and instant viewing through Netflix in the US.   http://www.gems-girls.org/get-involved/very-young-girls

2) Bought & Sold – Global Survival Network / WITNESS production. Directed by Gillian Caldwell. 42 mins running time. Available on Amazon.com

3) Nefarious: Merchant of Souls – Exodus Cry production. Covers the global sex trade in USA, Europe, Eastern Europe and SE Asia. Please contact them directly to order: info@exoduscry.com

3) Born into Brothels, directed by Zana Briski and Ross Kauffman.  2004 release.  This film focuses on children growing up in brothel communities in India.

4) “Sex Slaves” is written and directed by Ric Esther Bienstock, and produced in association with CBC-TV, Channel 4 and Canal D (Canada).  This gripping documentary exposes the inside of the global sex trade in women from the former Soviet Bloc.  (You can view this film online at http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/sex-slaves/)

5)  Witness: Fighting the Global Sex Trade is an Al Jazeera documentary from November 2010 profiling Stella Rotaru, who combats trafficking in Moldova.  Particularly realistic picture of trafficking in Eastern Europe.  Watch it at http://english.aljazeera.net/programmes/witness/2010/03/2010316752213346.html

SHORTS:

Two Little Girls.  I like this simple, two-minute introduction to the issue, and find it useful for younger audiences.  ‘Two Little Girls” was shown as part of the exhibition ‘not Natasha’ by Dana Popa at Impressions Gallery, Bradford, in partnership with Autograph ABP. Find the video clip online at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udHSutTF4Us

~ by Jennifer Roemhildt Tunehag on October 4, 2011.