pathways, SEPTEMBER 2007
starring: Emma Lung, Veronica Sywak, Saskia Burmeister, Sun Park, Amanda Ma
director: Dee McLachlan
89 minutes
rated MA
They were promised a new life in the lucky country ...
In A voice for victims of the sex trade (Eureka Street), Tim Kroenert, says that the Jammed is a film that tackles the problem of human trafficking head-on... What's more, drawing heavily upon real-life court transcripts, and based and filmed on and around the streets of Melbourne, the Jammed is a frank and gritty reminder that this issue is not just on Australia's doorstep - tragically, it's part of the furniture.
Melbourne woman Ashley (Sywak) learns about her city's seedy side quite by accident. A chance encounter with Chinese woman Sunee (Ma) finds her drawn into the search for Sunee's estranged daughter, Li Rong (Park).
He says that strong performances and writing amount to many scenes of extraordinary power, concluding that like many crimes of a sexual nature, the industry in human trafficking for the sex trade is largely protected by walls of silence and secrecy. In
the Jammed, McLachlan has provided a voice on behalf of the many voiceless victims. That alone makes it a worthwhile, albeit confronting, film.
A voice for victims of the sex trade Screening schedule
starring: Starring Jonny Lee Miller, Laura Fraser, Billy Boyd and Brian Cox. Directed by Douglas Mackinnon
98 minutes
rated M (moderate themes, moderate coarse language)
Fr Peter Malone MSC says that The Flying Scotsman, the story of Graeme Obree, the 1990s cycling champion, is a modest film.
"Everyone of us has ridden a bike so we can identify with the cycling even if it is in categories way above our competence."
He concludes that the film portrays human drama with strong positive values. (
full review from the Australian Catholic Office for Film and Broadcasting)
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