Trade of Innocents

Last updated
Trade of Innocents
Directed byChristopher Bessette
Written byChristopher Bessette
Produced byBill Bolthouse
Laurie Bolthouse
Jim Schmidt
Starring Dermot Mulroney
Mira Sorvino
John Billingsley
Trieu Tran
Edited byDiane Brunjes Robb
Music byTimothy Hosman
Production
company
The Bicycle Peddler LLC
Distributed by Monterey Media (US)
Release dates
  • June 2012 (2012-06)(Breckenridge Festival of Film)
  • October 2012 (2012-10)(Quad Cinema)
Running time
91 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Trade of Innocents is a 2012 American made thriller independent film written and directed by Christopher Bessette and starring Dermot Mulroney, Mira Sorvino, John Billingsley and Trieu Tran.

Contents

The film was shot on location in Bangkok, Thailand. It will look to bring awareness and involvement to work against human trafficking. [1]

Plot

In the back streets of a tourist town in present-day Cambodia, we find a filthy cinder block room; a bed with soiled sheets; a little girl waits for the next man to use her. Alex, a human trafficking investigator plays the role of her next customer as he negotiates with the pimp for the use of the child. Claire, Alex's wife, is caught up in the flow of her new life in Southeast Asia and her role as a volunteer in an aftercare shelter for rescued girls. She, and Alex both still are dealing with their grief of losing a child years earlier. As both of them struggle in their own way to overcome the pain of their past and realities of child exploitation where they now live and work, they find themselves being pulled together into the lives of local neighborhood girls, whose freedom and dignity are threatened.

Cast

Production

Development

The inspiration of Trade of Innocents came from a combination of the experience of the director (Christopher Bessette) and his trip to Phnom Penh, and the producers Bill and Laurie Bolthouse experience on their trip Phnom Penh. Christopher Bessette and Bill and Laurie later came together to make the film. [2]

Mira Sorvino has a longtime interest in supporting the cause of ending human trafficking. When asked about being in Trade of Innocents she said that "I felt it could be a powerful combination of my activist efforts and my artistic ventures." [3]

Release

In January 2011, Monterey Media acquired the United States and Canada distribution rights for the film from Bicycle Peddler LLC. [4]

Festivals

Trade of Innocents was selected to screen at the following film festivals:

Theatrical release

The film will begin its theatrical released in on October 5 at the Quad Cinema in New York. [6]

Critical reception

The film received a positive reaction from Entertainment Tonight calling it a "powerful and important new film". [7] Media Mike's also called the film "a rare gem that will probably not be seen by many but it really deserves mainstream shot." [8] On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a score of 0% based on 7 critic reviews. [9] On Metacritic, the film has an average weighted score of 29 out of 100 based on 6 critic reviews, indicating "Generally Unfavorable Reviews." [10]

Awards

FestivalCategoryWon
Toronto Cornerstone International Film FestivalBest PictureYes [11]
International Christian Visual MediaBest PictureYes [12]
Breckenridge Festival of FilmBest DramaYes [13]
Breckenridge Festival of FilmAudience Award - 2nd PlaceYes [13]
Breckenridge Festival of FilmBest Best DirectorYes [13]

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References

  1. "Human Trafficking - Trade of Innocents". Christian Medical and Dental.com. Archived from the original on 23 July 2012. Retrieved 6 August 2012.
  2. 1 2 Petrucci, Anthony (4 June 2012). "Prophetic Dream Drives Sex Trade Film Production". Charisma News. p. 1. Retrieved 6 August 2011.
  3. "Mira Sorvino: Saving Sex Slaves". Christianity Today. 3 Oct 2012. p. 1. Retrieved 8 Nov 2012.
  4. McNary, Dave (23 May 2012). "Monterey Media acquires rights to 'Innocents'". Variety . p. 1. Retrieved 6 August 2012.
  5. "Trade of Innocents is a fictional story" . Retrieved 6 September 2012.
  6. "Coming Soon". quadcinema.com. quadcinema. Archived from the original on 1 September 2012. Retrieved 6 September 2012.
  7. "Exclusive - Mira Sorvino's Worlds Collide". Entertainment Tonight . August 13, 2012. p. 1. Archived from the original on August 15, 2012. Retrieved 2023-05-25.
  8. "Film Review "Trade of Innocents"". Media Mikes. 1 Oct 2012. p. 1. Retrieved 8 Nov 2012.
  9. "Trade of Innocents". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved September 6, 2022.
  10. "Trade of Innocents". Metacritic. Retrieved September 6, 2022.
  11. "TCIF Film Guide" . Retrieved 8 Nov 2012.
  12. "TRADE OF INNOCENTS Wins Best Picture Award at ICVM". ChristianCinema.com. 20 July 2012. Retrieved 7 August 2012.
  13. 1 2 3 "The 32nd AnnualBreckenridge Festival Of Film is Over". Breckenridge Festival of Film. 10 June 2012. Archived from the original on 29 October 2007. Retrieved 6 August 2012.