The Whistleblower (Rhoades)

“The Whistleblower” Makes Local Connection
Reviewed by Shirrel Rhoades

There have been some great whistleblower movies: Russell Crowe in “The Insider.” Meryl Streep in “Silkwood.” Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman in “All the President’s Men.” George Clooney in “Michael Clayton.” Jane Fonda and Jack Lemmon in “The China Syndrome.”

Now we have one that proclaims its qualification right in the title, “The Whistleblower.”
While the above films expose everything from the tobacco industry to nuclear power plants, “The Whistleblower” is about a Nebraska cop who on assignment in Bosnia stumbles across a United Nations cover-up of child sex trafficking.

Academy Award-winner Rachel Weisz gives a determined performance as Kathryn Bolkovac, the real-life cop who discovered a number of young girls being forced into prostitution in postwar Bosnia. When she reported her findings to her UN boss (played by David Hewett) he merely smirks, convincing Kathryn that he is part of a conspiracy of silence.

Vanessa Redgrave and David Strathairn make appearances as members of the UN hierarchy. But it’s Weisz who carries the story.

A depressing tale it is, concluding that human sex trafficking and corruption are collateral damage in war.

Key West-based producer Anne O’Shea (“The Kids Are All Right”) was involved in bringing “The Whistleblower” to the screen. It’s currently making its local debut at the Tropic Cinema.
When recently invited to join the Keys Coalition, an organization designed to raise public awareness of human trafficking in the United States, Anne responded, “I am very much aware that human trafficking is a problem in this country and that is one of the reasons I was determined to get ‘The Whistleblower’ made: as a vehicle for educating people about the problem.”

The Keys Coalition is holding a large awareness rally at the Key West High School on January 14 (the Saturday after Human Trafficking Awareness Day (January 11th as designated by Congress).

srhoades@aol.com
[from Solares Hill]