Human Trafficking

I found the movie very compelling as it followed several different story lines, exposing many different facets to the sex trafficking industry. The fact that all these story lines were linked to one king pin running an international organization was pure Hollywood, but it allowed for drama and suspense as he was tracked by the feds. The wrap up and conclusion was also too easy, but again the mission of this film was to educate and spotlight abuse in an entertaining forum. This movie delivered.

On top of this, I especially appreciated the way the graphic scenes were composed. It was hard to watch, ugly, and grotesque. It wasn't played for sex appeal, or lurid fascination. It was ugly. Completely appropriate to the reality of the women, children, and victims of this abuse.

It is great that Lifetime is allowing the presentation of what is going on through out the entire world and very little is mentioned in our local newspapers. However, we do hear about an occasional girl or boy that is missing and is never heard from and I can imagine the police files must be over flowing with plenty of Cold Cases. This film clearly depicts the horrible PIGS and Sex Offenders who thrive on young innocent children. These poor human beings with a spiritual soul are required to perform degrading services, which hurts their chances to live normal lives or even want to be married to any man in their future lives !

I applaud the showing of this type of material, but making this a regular program with all these type of cases is more than my stomach can handle. Enough is Enough !

I am so glad I seen this movie. As much as it sickened me it also made me realize just how bad this problem is because I never knew. It saddens me a lot that we protect our country from terrorists and they are always in the news, but we do not seem to be doing nearly enough to stop human trafficking and never hear of it in the media, my thanks to Lifetime for opening our eyes. If we are going to fight the war on terrorism then we should also be fighting the war on human trafficking. Our own daughters and friends and teachers are being taken from their lives and being forced to be sex slaves to men that we thought we could trust: Doctors, lawyers,etc. It is our duty in this country to protect our citizens! So why aren't we? I pray that these women and children from our country and all over the world will be rescued from this hell on earth and that these pigs causing this hell will be brought to justice! And a final word advise, whatever you do, PLEASE DO NOT try to find love on the internet, it could cost you your freedom!

I was blown away by the production value and performances of HUMAN TRAFFICKING. Unlike most Lifetime movies, this one actually hits the viewer between the eyes with its raw, unflinching telling of various women's stories of trafficking across international borders for sex slave labour.

Loosely inspired by actual victims' stories, the women range from 12 years old to late thirties. They are tourists, single moms, women in bad relationships that need help, even a young girl looking for fame and fortune in the modeling industry.

The formula for the traffickers is simple: recruit women and girls that are desperate to get out of their current living situations, desperate to get a better paying job, desperate to go to the U.S. for a better life; make them believe the traffickers can deliver this promise, and submit their passports and papers to them. Once the traffickers have the girls and their documents, they can do anything they want to them. Some get moved around Europe, others end up in the U.S. all as sex slaves.

Robert Carlyle gives a riveting performance as Sergei Karpovich, the kingpin of the trafficking business. He's ruthless and cruel, yet intriguing to watch at the same time. He sets up his "businesses" to look like legitimate ventures, while operating a sex ring behind the scenes.

One thing that makes the character interesting is his smoothness when dealing with his doctor and the I.C.E. agents, while showing a sadistic evil side towards his employees and slaves. Definitely a wolf in sheep's clothing.

Mira Sorvino also gives a gritty performance as Kate Morozov, the I.C.E. agent that pursues Karpovich relentlessly as he builds his sex empire. Sorvino's conviction in getting these people caught and tried almost pushes her over the edge of sanity.

The scenes are gritty and unflinching. The material is difficult to view at times, but is well worth it in the end; in order to understand the universe in which these people operate, and the despair the victims face each day of their lives in captivity.

The film also addresses the problem of the market for these traffickers: they are doctors, lawyers, neighbours, relatives. Regular white-collar people that pay for these slaves' services. As long as there is a market, there will be sex slave traffickers.

See this film in its entirety at least once. It is unlike any Lifetime movie you have ever seen.

I only wish it was theatrically released for more exposure, so those who don't have access to CATV or Lifetime TV can also see it.

John Kotynek

Hardly ever do movies make me cry but this one definitely did. All I hear on the TV is how police are trying to catch pedophiles and other sick people who abuse women and children sexually. Unfortunately, rarely do we hear about arresting people in so called 'high society" who can afford to buy "pleasures" (I guess that's what they feel which makes me sick). This movie gave me mixed feelings about life and sense of believing in good in this world...less good and more wrong? I think everyone should see this movie and get a view of what's going on in a real life: how an innocent sign up for a modeling agency can be actually a ticket to hell and how much can a mother sacrifice to see her child.