Sex Traffic is a two-part British-Canadian television thriller, written by Abi Morgan and directed by David Yates, that first broadcast on Channel 4 on 14 October 2004.[1] The series, produced by Veronica Castillo and Derek Wax, stars John Simm as Daniel Appleton, a journalist who uncovers a trafficking ring involving Anti-Trafficking officers employed by a private security company in the United States. As Daniel vows to help Elena (Anamaria Marinca), one of the trafficked girls, he attempts to expose the business which forces young women from Eastern Europe into a life of sexual slavery.
| Sex Traffic | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre | Thriller |
| Written by | Abi Morgan |
| Directed by | David Yates |
| Starring | |
| Composer | Jonathan Goldsmith |
| Country of origin |
|
| Original languages |
|
| No. of episodes | 2 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
|
| Producers |
|
| Cinematography | Chris Seager |
| Editor | Mark Day |
| Running time | 90 minutes (per episode) |
| Production company | Big Motion Pictures |
| Original release | |
| Network | Channel 4 |
| Release | 14 October – 21 October 2004 |
The series was filmed between London, Bucharest and Nova Scotia. The series was also broadcast on CBC in Canada during October 2004. Marinca, in her first credited television role, won the BAFTA award for Best Actress, one of eight BAFTAs, including Best Drama Serial, and four Gemini Awards for the series.[2] The series was released on DVD on September 4, 2006.[3]
Plot
editThe expulsion of Sergeant Callum Tate, an Anti-Trafficking officer working in Bosnia, sparks concern for multi-national private security company Kernwell, headed up by Tom Harlsburgh. Having been caught seemingly trying to procure a prostitute for $2,000, Tate's actions have threatened to throw the entire company into disrepute, just as the directors are on the brink of signing an $8 million contract to provide private security in Iraq. Tate denies the allegations, claiming that he was trying to free Anya Petria, a student who had been trafficked from Romania and forced to work as a prostitute. Tate claims that a number of Kernwell officers, including Major James Brooke, are involved in a trafficking ring involving the enslavement of young women seeking refuge from their own countries in the hope of finding a better life in the West. Kernwell order a press blackout, preventing Tate's suspension or any of the allegations made reaching the press.
Meanwhile, Daniel Appleton, a journalist working for London-based charity Speak For Freedom, travels to Bosnia to report on Kernwell's activities, and whilst there, he witnesses a number of Anti-Trafficking officers having sex with prostitutes at a local bar. Before he can report his findings, the bar is raided and information is spread to suggest that he was caught having sex with a prostitute, Elena Visinescu, at the time of the raid. Appleton refutes the allegations, but is ordered to cease investigation into Kernwell by his boss, Joan Stewart. Appleton decides to continue privately investigating Kernwell, and discovers that shortly after leaving Bosnia, Anya's body was found washed up on the shores of an Italian beach. After becoming separated from her sister, Elena heads for London to find Appleton. With Elena's help, Appleton sets out to expose the corrupt officers working for the Anti-Trafficking unit and bring Kernwell to book.
Cast
edit- John Simm as Daniel Appleton
- Anamaria Marinca as Elena Visinescu
- Maria Popistașu as Vara Visinescu
- Chris Potter as Tom Harlsburgh
- Wendy Crewson as Madeleine Harlsburgh
- Len Cariou as Magnus Herzoff
- Maury Chaykin as Ernie Dwight
- Luke Kirby as Sergeant Callum Tate
- Robert Joy as Major James Brooke
- Alison Peebles as Joan Stewart
- Dan Astileanu as Deputy Chief Rudi Lascar
- Razvan Vasilescu as Colonel Matteo Giusto
- Jason Watkins as Inspector Lucas Reese
- John Sharian as Barry Edwards
- Rodica Negrea as Luiba Visinescu
- Carlotta Natoli as Dr. Lola Carizonne
- Barbara Eve Harris as Audrey Dupoint
- Alexandra Fasola as Anya Petria
- Ephraim Ellis as Billy Harlsburgh
- Nikki Barnett as Leah Harlsburgh
- Arben Bajraktaraj as Thaki
- Emil Hostina as Severin
- Elina Löwensohn as Maria Danielski
- Zoltan Butuc as Petre Danielski
Reception
editSex Traffic received critical acclaim across the board, with the British Film Institute's Screenonline writing; "As in his previous television work, including his adaptation of Anthony Trollope's The Way We Live Now which drew parallels between its ruthless Victorian entrepreneur hero and modern media tycoons, and the fine conspiracy thriller, State of Play, director David Yates gives a thrilling and complicated narrative a strong social and political dimension. The brutality of brothel life is tellingly juxtaposed with the ethics of Boston business, which is lavish with its charity while turning a knowingly blind eye to corruption. Sex Traffic is impeccably photographed, edited and scored."[4]
The Daily Telegraph wrote, "Sex Traffic is brutally honest in its treatment of a distressing subject, but it's this very honesty that makes it such a vital drama. It does indeed go to the heart of the audience, and its dark images stay with you for a long, long time. Difficult viewing, yes, but essential."[1] Empire commented that Sex Traffic was a "courageous, shocking piece of work", while The Guardian called it "a gripping thriller".[5] John Simm commented, "Watching Sex Traffic is not a horrible experience, because it works well as a thriller, so it's exciting and you are always gunning for the good guys – but you can't escape the fact that it's a depressing subject matter."[1]
Accolades
edit| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2005
|
British Academy Television Awards | Best Drama Serial | Derek Wax, David Yates, Abi Morgan | Won | [6] |
| Best Actress | Anamaria Marinca | Won | |||
| British Academy Television Craft Awards | Best Original Television Music | Jonathan Goldsmith | Won | [7] | |
| Best Editing: Fiction/Entertainment | Mark Day | Won | |||
| Best Costume Design | Anushia Nieradzik | Nominated | |||
| Best Photography & Lighting: Fiction | Chris Seager | Won | |||
| Make-Up & Hair Design | Caroline Noble | Won | |||
| Best Production Design | Candida Otton | Won | |||
| Best Sound: Entertainment | Simon Okin, Jane Tattersall, David McCallum, Lou Solakofski | Won | |||
| Gemini Awards | Best Dramatic Mini-Series | Wayne Grigsby, Michele Buck, David MacLeod, Derek Wax | Won | [8] | |
| Best Direction in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series | David Yates (for "Part 1") | Nominated | |||
| Best Writing in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series | Abi Morgan (for "Part 1") | Nominated | |||
| Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series | John Simm (for "Part 1") | Nominated | |||
| Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series | Wendy Crewson (for "Part 1") | Nominated | |||
| Anamaria Marinca (for "Part 1") | Nominated | ||||
| Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Supporting Role in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series | Chris Potter (for "Part 1") | Nominated | |||
| Luke Kirby (for "Part 1") | Nominated | ||||
| Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Supporting Role in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series | Maria Popistasu (for "Part 1") | Won | |||
| Best Photography in a Dramatic Program or Series | Chris Seager (for "Part 1") | Nominated | |||
| Best Picture Editing in a Dramatic Program or Series | Mark Day (for "Part 1") | Nominated | |||
| Best Production Design or Art Direction in a Dramatic Program or Series | Candida Otton (for "Part 1") | Won | |||
| Best Costume Design | Anushia Nieradzik (for "Part 1") | Won | |||
| Best Sound in a Dramatic Program | Kathy Choi, Barry Gilmore, Steve Hammond, Ronayne Higginson, Janice Ierulli, Garrett Kerr, Stephan Carrier, David McCallum, Lou Solakofski, Mark Shnuriwsky, Jane Tattersall, Robert Warchol, Rod Deogrades, Simon Okin, Jane Porter (for "Part 1") | Nominated | |||
| Royal Television Society Programme Awards | Drama Serial | Sex Traffic | Won | [9] | |
| Actor: Female | Anamaria Marinca | Won | |||
| Royal Television Society Craft & Design Awards | Costume Design - Drama | Anushia Nieradzik | Nominated | [10] | |
| Lighting, Photography and Camera - Photography (Drama) | Chris Seager | Nominated | |||
| Production Design - Drama | Candida Otton | Won | |||
| Sound - Drama | Sound Team | Nominated | |||
| Tape and Film Editing - Drama | Mark Day | Won |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c Raphael, Amy (10 October 2004). "Slavery tale for the 21st century" – via www.telegraph.co.uk.
- ^ "Channel 4's 'Sex Traffic' and 'Shameless' scoop top honours at Bafta". The Independent. 18 April 2005.
- ^ "Sex Traffic". 4 September 2006 – via Amazon.
- ^ "BFI Screenonline: Sex Traffic (2004)". www.screenonline.org.uk.
- ^ IFC Films Archived 7 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "'Sex Traffic' takes two trophies at Baftas, more". CBC. 18 April 2005. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
- ^ Staff (9 May 2005). "Sex Traffic dominates TV awards". British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). Retrieved 18 February 2021.
- ^ "Sex Traffic Awards". IMDb. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
- ^ "Programme Awards Winners 2005". Royal Television Society. 14 March 2011. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
- ^ "CRAFT & DESIGN AWARDS 2005". Royal Television Society. 24 January 2011. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
External links
edit- Sex Traffic at the BFI's Screenonline
- Sex Traffic at IMDb
