This film wasn't the most skillfully crafted piece I've ever seen but it did have some effective moments. I was most impressed by the actors that played the 3 girls in the sex trade. Their performances were strong and I felt they did well in portraying the fear and despair of young women being forced into prostitution. Having said that, I wish the filmmakers had spent more time developing the story. With such genuine performances coming from the women in this film, by the time the film had ended, I felt like the film itself didnt quite do their performances justice.One issue I have with this film is how rushed it feels. Some scenes felt like they could have been better developed, while others felt like they were drawn out for way too long. Yes, forced prostitution is horrific and the sights and sounds that come along with such a scene are horrific as well. That doesn't mean that I need such scenes drawn out for maximum impact. And I certainly don't need to see some John's ugly schlong after he's done having his way with one of the characters. Because some scenes and plot points were barely developed, I was disappointed when the ending came with little fanfare. Or information. One girls fate reveals itself about 3/4 of the way through the film. The second girl is last seen in an Australian prison. And the third disappears into the night, waving and smiling at her savior as you hear the click of her heels getting further and further away. And then BOOM. A short footnote saying that some sex trade workers died in a detention facility in Australia. THE END. Uhhhh... wut?While I realize that not every story will have tidy answers at the end, this particular story could have still offered its subjects a little more dignity than a vague epilogue. I was also disappointed in the performance of our protagonist, played by Veronica Sywak. I really didn't connect with her in any way and at times, found her character to be a bit insufferable. I'm not sure if this is the actor's doing or the script, but I felt Emma Lung, Saskia Burmeister and Sun Park were the true stars here. They did their best with what they were given and definitely outshone Sywak (to the previous reviewer who criticized the asian actors and gushed over Sywak, I think you need to take your white glasses off).Overall, this is worth a watch. Its uneven and ends abruptly but I found the actors performances of the trafficked girls to be quite good. It's too bad that the inconsistencies result in the girls stories being essentially unexplored. This is a shame because ultimately, this film ends up passing right over them, showing their pain in great detail but nothing about who they are, their journey, their stories. Much in the same way that the sex trade robs women of their power and identities, this film did the same by portraying these women as merely victims.

I don't know why this film picks up 2 these 2 Asian actresses to play the most important roles? because they are Asian looking? Because of low budget? Or may be the producer doesn't care what a real Chinese looks like.Frankly, i don't finish this movie. but If there is something positive to say, it's the Veronica Sywak. She looks very pretty, and did a good job in the movie.Well, this film is made for people, who cannot distinguish Asian countries. I suggest the people who interest in the topic - human traffic, to see the film Trade.

In this low budget picture, shot on HD, a 20 something Melbourne insurance worker becomes involved in the search for a victim of the sex slave racket. It's not really a thriller or a social document. Its dramatic focus is split between the prostitute/prisoners and the insurance worker, so the viewer tends to become attached and then detached. I think I was supposed to care about the insurance worker's personal life, which I was, a bit, but not that much. More importantly, I wanted to get to know the prostitute girls better as people, but there didn't seem to be time. Saskia Burmeister and Sun Park are excellent as two of the enslaved girls. Emma Lung is much less convincing. The music is dull, and includes that modern penchant for angelic choirs underscoring hideous physical abuse. Why? And what is this film actually about? The sex slaves? The insurance agent? The iniquity of the trafficking itself? Another couple of drafts of the script would maybe have sharpened up the focus. Nevertheless, it's not bad little picture.

Saw the film tonight ans honestly cannot see what all the hype is about. It is not badly made, although it is very cheaply made, but it was just trying too hard to be something it wasn't.I feel casting was what let this film down the most, the main character was utterly unconvincing as an immigrant with her forever changing accent. And the criminals in the film were such your typical stereotypes, no originality whatsoever.Also, the locations used were far too overused, it was plainly obvious that they were just driving around the streets of Richmond and St Kilda as the same landmarks kept popping up. This film is much better suited to network television as a miniseries.