The Price of Sex is a disturbing look into the world of human trafficking of Eastern European women. Filmmaker Mimi Chakarova interviews current and former victims, clients and anti-trafficking activists. She also goes undercover with a hidden camera to one of the clubs where women have been forced into prostitution and films major streets where these women solicit clients, often the local police. Such first hand accounts and primary footage give The Price of Sex a palpable sense of danger.

The film also provides unique insight into the fall of Communism which led to the harsh economic climate that made these women vulnerable to the tactics of the traffickers. Often, Chakarova laments how things were better under Communism and takes the viewer to her all but abandoned hometown.

For My Wife is a moving film by and about Charlene Strong whose partner lost her life during an intense storm. Charlene was denied access to Kate’s hospital room without first securing permission from her partner’s next of kin. In addition, she was later dismissed by the funeral director who would not recognize the important role of Charlene in Kate’s life. After these events, Charlene fought to change the legal system to secure more rights for gay and lesbian couples so that the same barriers would not be faced by other people.

The first half of the film focuses on the initial tragedy and legal battle. The second half revolves around Charlene’s continuing advocacy and the stories of other people who faced similar discrimination.

Despite the importance of the issues raised and Charlene’s emotional story, For My Wife is not consistently engaging. Even with a relatively short 60 minute running time, the film drags in spots and is a bit repetitive.

Lake of Fire is an impressive documentary, 18 years in the making, about abortion. At times, it is difficult to watch due to some graphic footage and descriptions, but the graphic nature of the film is never gratuitous nor exploitative. Lake of Fire provides an honest look at many aspects of the issue and does not shy away from some of the more gruesome details.

Although the film rests definitively on the side of pro-choice, it allows defenders on both sides of the issue speak their minds. At nearly two and a half hours long, the film allows the issues to develop slowly and thoroughly and with intelligence. Despite showing the pro-life movement in a bad light by focusing a good deal on the violence perpetrated by some of the more extreme people, the film is most concerned with showing the complexity of the issue.

With a lengthy running time and with covering a long period of time and a wide-variety of voices, Lake of Fire could have easily lost it’s narrative path, but it never does. The film is well-organized, brilliantly edited and beautifully filmed. The choice to film or convert footage to black and white helps take away any distractions of the different time periods and allows the filmmakers show graphic material in a way that has an impact but it not so graphic as to feel gratuitous. Continue reading →