The Whistleblower

(MA) Hopscotch DVD/BD

Rachel Weisz (The Constant Gardener) plays a determined woman who fights for justice in the face of overwhelming opposition. Based on a true story, the film follows Kathryn, a Nebraskan Police Officer who accepts a well-paying UN peacekeeping position in post-war Bosnia. Kathryn soon discovers that corruption is alive and well, and traces all the way back to the United Nations.

Kathryn’s discovery of an underground sex trafficking ring operating with members of her own corporation is a gross miscarriage of justice by the very people supposed to protect vulnerable women. Her discovery understandably shocks her but her best efforts to put a stop to it are continuously underhanded to the point where her own life is in danger.

The strength, resilience and determination in Rachel Weisz’s performance empower this incredibly bleak, often-frustrating film. Reality can certainly be disillusioning, but when asked if she would go through it all again, Kathryn’s answer is a resounding “Yes.”

A confronting, eye-opening expose of the huge human trafficking industry, The Whistleblower shows that one person can make a difference. This is an important reminder in a world in which modern slavery is a bigger problem than ever.

Jasmine Edwards