the flesh trade

Sa MBC2 ko ito napanood a couple of weeks ago but I made a mental note that I have to write about it in DS. Coz it’s one highly effective film na dapat mai-recommend sa inyo mga friends ko. It’s about human trafficking and all the gory details that go with it including the plight of women and young girls who always end up in sex slavery.

Simply titled Trade, this is a 2007 film by the German director Marco Kreuzpaintner (story by Peter Landesman and screenplay by Jose Rivera). Shot in Mexico and the US, it stars Kevin Kline along with a few Mexican stars na ngayon ko lang napanood like Cesar Ramos (who reminds me of Ryan Agoncillo), Paulina Gaitan and Polish actress Alicja Bachleda (I suppose you’d say Alicia?).

The story begins in Mexico City where a plane landed carrying two women from Poland accompanied by a female member of a human trafficking group. Obviously they were conned and promised of a job and better life in Mexico. Pero paglabas pa lang ng airport, the two already sensed that they are in danger kaya yong isa, tumakbo para tumakas but unfortunately got hit by a car and died on the spot. Naiwan ang maganda at single mom na si Veronica (Alicia) na agad dinala sa local hideout nong grupo.

Just about the same time, somewhere in the poor neighborhood of the city, Adriana (Paulina) was a 13-yr old girl who ventured out of her house alone, in her bike, despite admonitions from her mother. At dahil nga pasaway, ayon at na-tyempuhan sya ng members nong sindikato kaya na-kidnap din sya. (Kaya mga bata, wag pasaway, makinig sa magulang!)

She was brought to the local brothel na hideout nong sindikato. This is where she met Veronica. Out of terror and desperation, Veronica and Adriana became friends. They found strength and comfort with each other as they are being transported to the US/Mexico border. They will be smuggled inside US para dalhin sa New Jersey where they will be sold off in an auction.

Adriana has a 17-yr old brother, Jorge (Cesar) who vehemently pursued her as soon as he learned of the kidnapping. Street-smart si Jorge (say Horhe dahil nasa Mexico pa sya) kaya alam nya ang kuta ng mga sindikato. Nakita nya nong sinasakay ang sister nya along with the other victims sa isang van. Nasundan nya ang van hanggang sa Juarez na malapit sa Mexico/US border. Nakita nya rin kung sino ang contact ng mga sindikato at kung gaano ito ka-powerful. Kaya wala syang nagawa.

Kakasunod nya sa kapatid, nakita nya ang Texas cop na si Ray (Kevin) na nagpunta ng Juarez dahil may hinahanap. Hiding in the trunk of Ray’s car (without Ray’s knowledge of course), Jorge conveniently slipped through the border when Ray went back to Texas.

When Jorge (now you can say George dahil nasa US na sya huh) was discovered, Ray threatened to turn him over to the police. But remember, Ray himself is a cop. At nong nagkalinawan silang dalawa, they both realized they have one thing in common. It turned out that Ray himself is also suffering from the loss of a daughter na suspetsa nya ay naging biktima rin ng human trafficking. That’s why he decided to help Jorge in his pursuit of the victims who are now being transported by two ring members across States on their way to New Jersey.

Along the way, pinakita ang mga klase ng pahirap na ginagawa sa mga babae like being forced into drugs. O yong bentahan ng quickie sex sa tabi-tabi. Dumating din yong point na sumuko si Veronica. It’s one of the most eeriely foreboding scene in the movie where she, while standing precariously on the edge of a cliff, put on the hood of her jacket, stared coldly into Manuelo (the crook who’s been with them since Mexico) and said ‘I make sure you pay for this’. Saka sya tumalon sa bangin. Kung ikaw yong crook, siguradong maliligalig ka dahil alam mong may kasamang sumpa yong pagkamatay ng biktima.

Then the two packs - the victim (nag-iisa na si Adriana na natira)/abductors and Ray/Jorge - finally arrived in New Jersey. Kinontak ni Ray ang mga koneksyon nya sa kapulisan only to be let down because of red tape and beaurucracy. Wala silang nagawa ni Jorge kungdi mag-bid sa on-line auction para lang maisalba si Adriana. Ray who posed as a buyer, won the auction and was about to bring Adriana out into safety and freedom. Pero may twist pa ang story. Until Jorge finally gets the revenge he promised at the start of his pursuit.

The strength of the movie comes from the material itself. Alam natin kung gaano katotoo at kapangit ang human trafficking. Lalo ang white slavery. And the director did a good job of executing scenes where you would actually feel the brtutality of the situation. Good job for the actors too coz they did justice to their roles. Alicja was believable as a strong-willed victim who sees hope even in the direst of situations. Paulina was convincing as a young girl who is traumatized by the sudden change of her world. And Cesar did well in portraying a devoted big brother who will do everything to get his sister back. Of course Kevin is already a veteran and his role, though vital, does not require much acting so he just winged it.

My problem lies with the screenplay. May mga tanong na lulutang na wala kang makikitang logical explanation. Tulad nong New Jersey. Bakit of all places, New Jersey pa ang final destination samantalang it’s thousands of miles from Juarez where they skipped the US/Mexico border? Bakit dinaanan pa ang kalakhan ng Texas plus a few more States para pumunta ng New Jersey? Kung ako yong mga sindikato, I’d realize that the longer the travel, the riskier it will be dahil maaring masabat ng mga pulis ang kargamento. But heck, sabi nong writer sa New Jersey eh, di sige New Jersey.

Pati yong first time na mag-skip ng border ang mga babae with the pimps. Nahuli sila ng border patrol but they all were sent back to Mexico. Bakit hindi na-process si Veronica, na-determine na victim ng human trafficking at ibinalik ng Poland. Bakit sa Mexico binalik?

And the way Jorge and Ray met. Parang hindi believable na tatagal si Jorge na nagtatago sa compartment ng kotse ni Ray ng ilang araw. He could have died from suffocation. Unbelievable din yong ending ng isang ring member na lumambot at biglang naging dramatic. Bakit? Para lang magkaron ng salvation yong kanyang character? Hmmm…

But despite this seemingly illogical parts of the narrative, patatawarin ko yong pelikula dahil mas na-move ako ng kabuuan nito. As a whole, it is one credible depiction of the inhumane and revolting abuse being inflicted upon the hapless victims. It is a strong condemnation of one of the most atrocious offence men are committing against its own race.

With an estimated 600,000 to 800,000 victims of human trafficking each year (others say it’s much higher), dapat matigil ito at maisalba ang libo-libong biktima na nawawala at napapahamak araw-araw. These men, women and children don’t deserve to be traded like goods. And their families do not deserve the pain and anguish that comes from losing a loved one this way.

I hope this film opens a lot of hearts so human trafficking can be curbed, if not stopped.