SHE HAS A NAME (2016) – Film Review
The film’s
synopsis, as listed on the movie’s website, is simple:
Jason,
a lawyer, poses as a john to build a legal case against a ruthless pimp who is
trafficking girls in Asia. He meets Number 18, a girl forced to work as a
prostitute in a busy red light district whose testimony is key to his
case.
As a
reminder, I rate movies based on three criteria: objectionable content (C), artistic merit
(A), and my personal opinions (P). (C-A-P. Get it?)
CONTENT
(C): 9 out of 10
With a
nightclub being a major set piece of the film, there would have been ample
opportunity to include lewd and indecent imagery and language. Instead of
taking the easy (and perverted) path, the filmmakers chose instead to portray
the red light district in a way that both respects actors and audiences.
As far as
language goes, there are a few crass references (in a context in which those
references are portrayed as morally reprehensible). The story is devoid,
however, of gratuitous vulgarity.
As far as
visuals go, there are a couple scenes on the main floor of a nightclub called
The Pearl, where sex traffic victims dance on a raised stage. What makes this
material stand out from your typical mainstream strip club scene is manifold:
the dancers are almost fully clothed, their dances are choreographed in such a
way to minimize sensuality, and the camera’s framing almost always downplays
the significance of their presence. Whenever there’s a direct shot of a dancer
(and there almost never is), it’s a close-up shot of the dancer’s head and
shoulders, communicating only grief and sadness—not sensuality.
The
initial interaction between Jason and Number 18 involves a few sexual gestures
and instances of near-nudity that are rightfully uncomfortable, but it’s all
based on Number 18’s confusion about Jason’s presence in her bedroom. (He’s
trying to gather information, not use her body for his own pleasure.)
If sexual
lust is a particular struggle for you right now, the above scenes may be a bit
too much. In any case, it is obvious that the filmmakers actively chose to
avoid exploitation while telling this story.
ARTISTRY
(A): 8 out of 10
The outstanding
cinematography showcased in the film’s trailers is evidenced throughout the
movie. Even in the few cases that involve superfluous camera movements, the
look of the film is gorgeous. I’ve not seen anything else shot by Bob Nguyen,
but he has quite an eye for beautiful composition.
With rare
exceptions, the acting is stellar. The international cast of characters is
embodied by performers who know their craft well. Acting can sometimes be a
bane to small budget productions; here, it is mostly an asset. The plethora of
emotions inherent in a tragic story like this are communicated with
believability by a talented cast.
While
addressing a large-scale problem (the sex traffic industry), this is a
small-scale story. Those looking for a large-scale treatment (especially when
it comes to the few action set pieces) might be disappointed. Rather than
involving parkour and complex pyrotechnics, the chase scenes here are more
true-to-life. That’s not a detriment to the story; it just might not meet
expectations for those accustomed to a high diet of Hollywood spectacle.
PREFERENCE
(P): 8 out of 10
Based on
my (admittedly limited) research, it seems that movies about the sex traffic
industry succumb to one of two faults: exploitative storytelling techniques or
sub-par production values.
On the
exploitive end, graphic depictions of nudity and sexual violence inadvertently
encourage audiences to participate voyeuristically in the narrative, conflicting
with the intention of the filmmakers to condemn such actions.
On the
other end of the spectrum, where gratuitous violence and nudity are avoided,
sex trafficking movies are hindered by their low production budgets, which are
often evidenced by poor acting. No actors may have been exploited in the
production of such stories, but audiences might feel disconnected by lackluster
performances.
She Has a Name navigates between these two
extremes more successfully than not. Even the name of the movie itself communicates
a sensitive approach to the story. There’s nothing inherently wrong with using
words like Trafficked or Caged in a movie title. Nevertheless, She Has a Name goes the extra mile in
avoiding sensationalism (wallowing in the gritty brutality of sex trafficking),
choosing rather to focus on the humanity of the those who are kidnapped,
imprisoned, and exploited by others for financial gain.
It is
admittedly tricky to use a visual medium like film to communicate the evils of
sexual violence without glorifying sexual violence. But while such an approach
is tricky, it is not impossible. Here’s hoping more movies will take a cue
from the approach taken by She Has a Name.
CAP score:
83%