An unprecedented and compelling inquiry, THE PRICE OF SEX sheds light on the underground criminal network of human trafficking and experiences of trafficked Eastern European women forced into prostitution abroad. Photojournalist Mimi Chakarova’s feature documentary caps years of painstaking, on-the-ground reporting that aired on Frontline (PBS) and 60 Minutes (CBS) and earned her an Emmy nomination, Magnum photo agency’s Inge Morath Award, and a Webby for Internet excellence.
Filming undercover with extraordinary access, even posing as a prostitute to gather her material, Bulgarian-born Chakarova travels from impoverished rural areas in post-Communist Eastern Europe, including her grandmother’s village, to Turkey, Greece, and Dubai. This dangerous investigative journey brings Chakarova face to face with trafficked women willing to trust her and appear on film undisguised. Their harrowing first-person accounts, as well as interviews with traffickers, clients, and anti-trafficking activists, expose the root causes, complex connections, and stark significance of sexual slavery today.
"More than simply bashing patriarchy or capitalism or globalization, Chakarova instead exposes the complexities and corruptions at their intersections, taking care to humanize, rather than exploit, her brave subjects. The poignant stills, gritty undercover footage, and squirm-worthy interviews with those who surround these young women weave together a narrative that pulls few punches but demands viewers' attention. The storytelling and visual composition alone make this film absolutely captivating." Catherine Orr Women’s and Gender Studies, Beloit College
"Her poignant documentary has given these women a collective voice to expose the nightmare they endured… [the] harrowing film takes an unflinching look at the very real price of sex for these women who have suffered unimaginable pain and suffering." The Huffington Post
“Fearlessly researched and undeniably urgent…indefatigably follow[s] the harrowing path of human sex trafficking…” Eddie Cockrell Variety
“It’s a piece made to build awareness and activism. …it is a powerful look into a world that we, as Americans, are not used to seeing.” Austin Glidden Stereosubversion
“The portraits of the women featured in the film are powerful and heart-rending… Suitable for some mature high school classes and for college courses in cultural anthropology, anthropology of women/gender, anthropology of globalization/neoliberalism, and Eastern European studies, as well as general audiences.” David Eller Anthropology Review Database
"…the film offers uniquely personal insight into a major criminal enterprise that destroys the lives of countless young women…recommended." Video Librarian
“Chakarova never makes judgments: She just gives the women a chance to speak about their experiences. The viewer, however, gleans a desire for them to exist outside that industry; to effectively end, not just document, that cycle of abuse.” Bitch Magazine
Documentary Films; Human Rights; Law & Criminal Justice
Keywords
Human Rights, Young Women, ; Global Feminism, Anthropology,; Eastern Europe, Sex Trafficking/Sex Work, Criminal Justice, Globalization; Labor Studies, Violence Against Women,; Public Health; "The Price of Sex"; Women Make Movies
Distributor: Women Make Movies
Length: 73 minutes
Date: 2011
Genre: Expository
Language: English; Russian; Turkish; Bulgarian / English subtitles
Grade: College, Adults
Color/BW:
Closed Captioning: Not available
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