WUNRN
AUSTRALIA
- MOVIE ON TRAFFICKING - "THE JAMMED"
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AUSTRALIA TRAFFICKING FILM -
"THE JAMMED"
Soroptimist International Brisbane
City, Australia - Distribution for
interested individuals and programs.
Contact: Soroptimist International Brisbane City Club - Chris Knight - grachris@iprimus.com.au
AUSTRALIA "THE JAMMED" TRAFFICKING FILM - Order Form is attached.
Additional
postage may be needed for overseas shipments.
Soroptimist International is gravely concerned about the devastating global
increase in trafficking of human beings, especially women and children and
the gross violation of their basic human rights.
To help raise community awareness through social education, Soroptimist
International Brisbane City, Australia, is an authorised distributor of the
Australian produced DVD "The Jammed", which is based on a true story
inspired by court transactions that highlight the issues of illegal
prostitution and government deportation of victims in Australia. Proceeds
from the sale of the DVD will
support projects that assist survivors of
human trafficking.
______________________________________________________________
http://www.abc.net.au:80/northqld/stories/s2071210.htm
http://www.thejammed.com/
Movie - The Jammed
Talent: Saskia Burmeister, Emma Lung, Veronica Sywak
Date of Review: 26 October 2007
THE JAMMED
Movies do not have to be about pleasant things in order to be enjoyable or
memorable. Indeed it's often the daring, brave and shocking films that are
remembered in the long run. As a viewer you can take pleasure in seeing good
work on the screen - an intelligent story brought to life by a great script,
clever director, first rate production values and a talented cast. Director
and writer Dee McLachlan's The Jammed is about a seedy and difficult topic -
sex slave trafficking - but its executed so well, that it's a movie that
demands to be seen.
The Jammed deals with three women who've arrived in Australia and found
themselves caught up in the sex slave industry. Crystal (Emma Lung) has
traveled from Shanghai believing she was going to be employed as an exotic
dancer, Vanya (Saskia Burmeister) is from Eastern Europe, while Rubi (Sun
Park) is a Chinese girl, whose mother Sunee (Amanda Ma) has come to
Australia to search for her. Melbourne-based insurance company worker Ashley
(Veronica Sywak) unwittingly finds herself helping Sunee with her
investigation. Together they enter a dangerous world that's filled with
unexpected twists.
There are a number of refreshing things about The Jammed. For starters, it
doesn't feel the need to preach. The situations presented here are awful,
and while McLachlan isn't shying away from what's happening to her
characters, there's no big stick approach. The film is first and foremost a
dramatic thriller. There's a mystery to solve here instead of merely
dwelling on the story's unsavory elements.
And it's far from predictable. I found myself engrossed in the characters'
stories, especially Vanya, who's willing to fight to break out of the cage
she's found herself in. The uncertainty over the characters' fates adds an
air of apprehension to the proceedings and keeps you tense and wondering.
That's very good writing on Dee McLachlan's part, and as a director, she
fills the movie's 90 minute running time with plenty of narrative shocks and
character development.
I also like the look of this film. Cinematographer Peter Falk has washed it
in burnt out tones, the seedy streets glisten and the urgency of the
characters is brought to life with vivid close ups. The camera lingers in
some scenes, notably one where Rubi realises the horror she's trapped in,
and the decision to stay with the shot and not cut away makes you feel
incredibly uneasy.
The Jammed gives some actors a real chance to shine. Sun Park in particular
is heartbreaking as the doomed Rubi, so is Amanda Ma as her tortured mother.
Saskia Burmeister shines in her role. Veronica Sywak has a harder job. If
there's a false note to this story, it's with her character Ashley. Her
actions sometimes seem a little unbelievable. And it's strange to see Alison
Whyte and Andrew S Gilbert, who are usually the good guys, play completely
horrible characters, but they're both excellent.
Reports indicate that Dee McLachlan had a very difficult job getting The
Jammed made and onto cinema screens. But hats off to her and the whole team
for being committed to this involving and challenging film. It's not an easy
ride, but it's an incredibly worthwhile one.
- Michael Clarke
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