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Reviews for December 4th, 2008




Call + Response

Directed by Justin Dillon.


This provocative and alarming documentary tackles the issues of child labor and sex slavery around the world. Girls and boys, some as young as 3-years-old, are forced into prostitution in brothels where they’re devirginized and sleep with countless number of men. Even if they try to escape, they end up coming back because they’re addicted to the powerful drug methamphetamine. Footage from these brothels leaves you feeling emotionally devastated and yearning to do something about it. It’s equally moving and alarming to watch interviews with celebrities-turned-humanitarians, such as Ashley Judd, Julia Ormond and Darryl Hannah, who speak out articulately about the issues. Even Margaret Thatcher speaks out. As Julia Ormond keenly observes, human trafficking is a commodity just like drugs, weapons and many others. The constant selling of human beings from one owner to another makes it, in a sense, a perfect crime. Director Justin Dillon, who’s also a musician, wisely tries to make the documentary accessible to this generation by including musical performances of artists such as Cold War Kids, Matisyahu and Emmanuel Jal, a child soldier, whose lyrics relate to the issues. He also includes some comic relief thanks to one particularly funny interviewee who talks quite imaginatively about what it means to have “the funk”. Ultimately, Call + Response serves as an important wake-up call to raise awareness of child labor and sex slavery so that every generation, especially this one, will be innately inspired to find a make a difference.
Number of times I checked my watch: 1.
Released by Fair Trade Pictures. Opens at the Tribeca Cinemas.





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