Director: Bruno Gascon
Writer: Bruno Gascon (Screenplay)
Starring: Michalina Olszanska, Vitor Norte, Rita Blanco, Sara Sampaio, Miguel Borges, Dmitry Bogomolov
Plot: A lorry, a road and an unpredictable destiny, all intersecting in a human trafficking network. Caught up in this web, Viktoriya has only one chance: fight to survive.
Runtime: 1 Hour 53 Minutes
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Verdict: Unsettling & Disturbing
Story: Carga starts as Viktoriya (Olszanska) trying to leave the Soviet Union, sees herself taken across the borders, only to be handed off to human traffickers, they execute the men, keeping the women. Antonio (Norte) getting tired of his part in the operation, faces a difficult decision with Viktor (Bogomolov) blackmailing him into staying in, following his every wish.
As Viktoriya sees the reality of the world she is living in now, she knows she must fight to survive, as Viktor will kill anybody who tries to escape or lets him down, can she make it out?
Thoughts on Carga
Characters – Viktoriya is the latest victim of the human trafficking group, she is taken, forced into the sex trade, facing little hope of getting out before it is too late. She never gives up hope of getting out of this world, even if it takes her time to wait for her chance of rescue. Viktor is the ruthless leader of the operation, he will kill anybody who lets him down, tries to escape or isn’t required from the selection of people he is given. Antonio is the man that transports the people across the borders, he is filled with regret for what he is doing, which only makes him feel the guilt for the fate the victims are facing.
Performances – Michalina Olszanska is brilliant in this film, strangely playing two roles, with the lead be the victim, while the second role being one of the traffickers. Both roles are very different which does show the range she has to offer. Dmitry Bogomolov is disturbing, like we need him to be, his role is the one that will grab your attention the most. Vitor Norte does show just how difficult his characters decision is, just how much guilt he is feeling.
Story – The story here takes us into the world of human trafficking, following one of the latest victims as she looks to escape, the transporter filled with guilt being forced to remain in the game and the boss running the operation that doesn’t always go to plan for him. The story plays on the reality that this is happening, shows the bleak future the girls will face if taken into this world and just how deadly it can be for the people working in it. It has moments that are clearly unsettling which will disturb even the strongest minds, while also showing us just how easy it could be to be placed into this world. the story doesn’t hold back, but doesn’t dwell on any of the sexual side of the film, we don’t need to see this and the film doesn’t force us through it.
Settings – The film takes us to the realistic settings that show how the girls will be taken to isolated locations to be put into practice before being sent to the open world to make the money the boss wants.
Scene of the Movie – The car boot.
That Moment That Annoyed Me – We tend to not spend enough time with Viktoriya in the early part of the film.
Final Thoughts – This is a shocking and disturbing movie that shows us just how the human trafficking world operates.
Overall: Shocking, eye opening film.
Rating
