The Whistleblower (Larysa Kondracki, 2010): USA

Reviewed by Veronica Vanglin. Viewed at The Lobero Theatre.

“This film is based on true events” that very first sentence that came up on the screen to The Whistleblower made me shiver. There are so many films that are built on actual happenings, and they can be absolutely heartbreaking but usually it is a one in a million shot of it to occur. That is not the case with this narrative. Trafficking, selling young girls for sex, happens everyday – all over the world. We are all aware of this criminal business that takes place even in our own backyard, but how aware are we that the head of this trade could be our own law and order. The people that we trust with our own, our family’s and loved one’s safety. This film makes me want to take immediate action but at the same time I’ve never felt so powerless. It is almost like I’ve given up hope of humanity after this tragic story about innocent women who have their lives stolen.

Larysa Kondracki decided to do her debut feature film based on a Nebraskan cop named Kathryn Bolkovac who went to Bosnia for work. Bolkovac had been through a tough time back home in Nebraska and she always had an interest for Bosnia, Ukraine and that part of the world since her grandpa was from there. So when she got the offer to go with a much higher salary, the decision was easy. Kathryn is played by the very talented Rachel Weisz. We do not only follow Weisz struggle to help the young women who are getting used as sex slaves, her hard work to get through to anyone else who could help her, but we also get to see how this effected the family’s in Bosnia, and I could feel the horror among the girls who were all drugged, beaten and humiliated.

Apart from this very strong story, what really stood out for me was the acting. To me this is Rachel Weisz’s best performance in her long and successful career. Her co actors were all extremely talented too and the amazing cinematography helped making this film even better. The enslaved girls did an amazing job at portraying the introvert feelings they had during this horrible time. They were to scared to show their feelings, to scared to hide them. Weisz desperation and determination to save these girls and put an end to the trading business was so passionate that I’ll forgive her for The Mummy Returns.

This is the none Hollywood version of Taken. I loved Taken but the feeling in The Whistleblower is so much more realistic. I was more emotionally involved while watching this film and even after. Also The Whistleblower brings up a more serious subject since it is about the over all trade and who is actually running it. While Taken is more about Liam Nelson and his relationship to his daughter. Both are great films worth watching!

I recommend this film to anyone, even if the subject does not interest you because it is a strong story, great cinematography and acting and most of all a great source of information.