MOVIE:
I Am All Girls
WHERE TO WATCH:
OUR RATING:
4/5 Stars
WHAT IT'S ABOUT:
A relentless detective finds common ground with a killer systematically targeting the perpetrators running a powerful child-trafficking ring.
WHAT WE THOUGHT:
I Am Girls follows specials crimes investigator Jodie Snyman (Erica Wessels) and police officer, Ntombizonke (Hlubi Mboya), who form an unlikely bond as they race against the clock to stop a notorious child trafficking ring - operating right on our doorstep.
Directed by Donovan Marsh (Hunter, Killer), the thriller is set against the dying days of Apartheid, and involved in the trafficking operation are, among other influential figures, powerful South African politicians.
Movies about the sex trade are nothing new to Hollywood, but I Am All Girls shows that it's much closer to home than we think.
I have to admit, after watching the I Am All Girls trailer, I was very apprehensive about watching the film as it deals with such a serious and dark subject matter.
With scenes of sexual assault and exploitation being particularly tough to watch, would it serve the plot and move forward the much-needed conversation or only toy with my emotions as I catch harrowing glimpses through my fingers?
But I am so glad that I moved past my unease. I Am All Girls takes a nuanced approach to tell the story of the unbreakable human spirit and the horror of human trafficking without pushing the viewer away.
Donovan, who is no stranger to exploring South Africa's criminal underbelly in his work, succeeds in drawing the viewer in and moves the conversation of human trafficking forward without disturbing the viewer with unsettling depictions of abuse and violence.
The slow pace fit the film's visual style, and there is incredible power in the quiet moments. Slow-paced doesn't mean boring, and I Am All Girls deserves some patience.
Hlubi delivers an emotionally charged performance as Ntombizonke, a role that mainly relies on her non-verbal signalling. It is her gaze, posture, facial expressions and body language that speaks volumes. And it was beautiful yet unsettling to watch on screen.
Hlhubi proves that a wordy character doesn't equal a leading role, but a character can have a lot to say with very little dialogue.
Unlike her, co-lead Jodie, played by Erica, is unhinged; she is obsessive, compulsive, and although not directly addressed in the film, it's implied that she has PTSD.
Although I understand (and appreciate) the film to be survivor-focused, I needed some backstory for Jodie to better understand her uncontrollable pursuit for justice and her love for children.
Despite their differences, it's apparent that Jodie and Ntombi both need love to heal, and without knowing each other's past trauma, they find that comfort, love and support in each other.
We also see a lighter side to the characters through their interactions with each other, showing that although people may carry pain every day and difficult obstacles shape us - we are more than our trauma.
Other cast members include Mothusi Magano, Masasa Mbangeni, Brandon Daniels, Nomvelo Makhanya and Donovan Lotz.
The ending is a set up for a sequel, but it can also be interpreted as open-ended, indicating the ongoing threat of human trafficking in the world.
I Am All Girls shows the dark realities of the world we live in and that we can't close our eyes and ignore the problem, thinking that it will never happen to us. We need to inform ourselves and our families to protect the people close to us.
But can movies change the world or influence people? I don't know.
Human trafficking continues to be an extremely under-policed area in South Africa, and I hope that I Am All Girls will re-ignite and move forward with the conversation about the issue. And hopefully, be seen by people who are in a position to bring about some meaningful change.
WATCH THE TRAILER HERE: