Urban Traffik

This gritty crime drama about young women caught up by a group of ruthless human traffickers on the streets of modern Dublin is full of insights into who these women are and how they fell into this trap. The film also turns a shocking laser focus on the psychology and dynamics of the abductors themselves. It opens with charismatically handsome Adam stalking and befriending a beautiful homeless teenager in a Dublin cafe. He takes her back to his apartment for warmth and a chat, where she candidly tells him her life story - how she travelled to the city to find herself after leaving her parents' home under a dark cloud. He offers her a place to stay and inevitably he's having soon sex with her. The well-oiled syndicate is run by Dan, whose ruggedly handsome resemblance to Russell Crowe enables his murderous and utterly amoral power over the group. Dan oversees his sex racket from his plush home, as his right-hand-woman and sister, Alex (Kojii Helnwein) takes orders from him and tries to keep his two lackeys - Frankie and Purcell in line. Adam picks up attractive strays on the street. Seemingly a generous charmer, he provides a much-needed place to stay, a sympathetic ear and sexual comforting. But soon, he drugs them and calls his girlfriend/accomplice Alex to come get them. The grim mechanics of the gang's operation is about to be upset. The sexual perks of Adam's job cause jealousy in the gang, and Alex is enraged by the lackeys gossiping about how Adam gets to "have the girls". Adam is, after all, her boyfriend as well as criminal colleague. Not any more. She kicks him out of her apartment. Works goes on regardless. And that's where the fatal complication arises: Adam picks up the destitute Amy, and as she tells him about her years on the streets, he fatefully develops real feelings towards her. Adam's life spirals out of control as he tries to sever ties with a job he no longer has the heart for. Somehow, a happy ending seems incredibly doubtful.