SummaryInspired by actual events, Kathy is an American police officer who takes a job working as a peacekeeper in post-war Bosnia. Her expectations of helping to rebuild a devastated country are dashed when she uncovers a dangerous reality of corruption, cover-up and intrigue amid a world of private contractors and multinational diplomatic doub...
SummaryInspired by actual events, Kathy is an American police officer who takes a job working as a peacekeeper in post-war Bosnia. Her expectations of helping to rebuild a devastated country are dashed when she uncovers a dangerous reality of corruption, cover-up and intrigue amid a world of private contractors and multinational diplomatic doub...
A grisly, authentic, meticulously researched, pulse-quickening political chiller about a hot-button topic that will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.
I'm giving this movie a 10 not because I think it's perfect but because some of the negative reviews from the critics made me so angry. Sometimes, I think critics are all about self-importance and sounding "critical" more than they are about the quality or strength of a movie. This film is difficult to watch but so important. It's not a movie for the sake of making a movie but a revelation. It hit me in the gut, exactly where it was meant to. It made think about this world and my country at present. It's a tough reality but it sheds light on a painful truth. The fight between good and evil is a close match and it reminded me that if you stand for good you better stand now. The scenes are real and sometimes brutally authentic. Rachel Weisz does an outstanding job of portraying Kathryn Bolkovac. Her character has lost her daughter in a custody suite and thus her deep emotional involvement with the young girls who are victims of human trafficking into the sexual slave market is better understood. I do think her own fading relationship with her daughter could have been emphasized more to remind us she is fueled not only by her job and her natural humanity but her maternal instincts. Please don't miss this powerful film because you think it might be upsetting and especially not because of the critics. Allow it to motivate you for justice because God knows, this world needs to work for it everyday.
Excellent film, despite being both disturbing in subject and unflinching in portrayal. Occasionally clunky expositional dialogue is more than made up for with very strong performances by the women cast as trafficked women from Ukraine, and eminently hatable bad guys who see nothing wrong with beating and **** young girls who have been kidnapped and chained into slavery. Very, very affecting stuff, and the tension is quite expertly ratcheted up drip by drip, from start to finish. Weisz continues to shine by breathing a soul into what could have been a two-dimensional role; her no-nonsense cop from Nebraska makes you proud to be an American, even when the American company she works for does everything it can to stop her from exposing a sordid underbelly of sex trafficking. Her heroine manages to be a flawed, flickering flame of hope that refuses to be snuffed out. Occasionally choppy editing and awkward scene transitions only superficially mar great pacing; 'shakeycam' cinematography is unnecessary, but the lighting is emotionally effective and exteriors of Bosnia (actually shot in Romania) bolster the film's look. I've been reading reviews on Metacritic for years; and have never personally reviewed a film; this one just feels like its an inspired work about an important topic that doesn't deserve to be lost in the weeds of the cinema's dog days of summer. Highly recommended.
The Whistleblower is frustratingly uneven, but at least it affords us the rare opportunity these days to meet up with a movie hero who isn't wearing jammies and a cape.
The story, inspired by Bolkovac's experiences in Bosnia and her subsequent book account, is dynamite. Alas, Kondracki's direction fizzles. While she elicits a tense and eloquent performance from Weisz, the first-time filmmaker fails to maintain a consistent tone. Her film samples multiple genres.
There's a conflict between the film's need for some sort of closure and the messiness of the reality it depicts that leaves The Whistleblower even more unsatisfying than it was meant to be.
It reaches a peak of dramatic anguish in star Rachel Weisz's single moment of naked fury, rather than through the tenacity and compassion that define her crusading title character.
Ignore some of the lame critic reviews. This is a very powerful drama, kind of an Erin Brockovich of sex trafficking. At times it's quite harrowing. The lead character, based on a true story, is a real heroine. It's an incredible indictment of the UN "peace" keeping mission in Bosnia, the corruption of the private security companies and the indifference of the US State Department to do anything about young women being sold as sex slaves. Warning - get to the end and your blood might boil.
This is a very bleak, sobering film, not one that makes for easy viewing. Its quite harrowing and at times I found it hard to watch, however given the story, its a film that I suppose needed to be made. To think that such organisations may be, or ever did, knowingly keep such things covered up, is a scandal. The movie shows things from two points of view as it documents Kathryns journey to expose the cover up as well as showing the journey of two of the victims of Bosnian human trafficking.
The Bosnian war is referenced and its clear that the country was badly damaged by what happened many years ago. At the start and during many scenes there are subtitles present when the Bosnians (or/and Croats?) are speaking, so if your not keen on reading from subtitles then this may put you off, although it does make it seem more realistic, at least the locals don't magically speak English so that we can follow the story(!).
There are alot of issues to do with nationals, the authorities having no interest in helping victims who don't have full documentations to prove their nationality, which many people didn't, having been travelled from outside the Bosnian border illegally...this clearly being beaurocracy in action(!) its clear there's some hidden agenda from fairly early on and as the film develops, it only gets murkier. Kathryn builds quite a strong determination to help the women trapped and to expose the scandal - she comes across as quite strong willed and while lacking the backup she needs and being quite ill educated in how to go about it, she seems quite determined and shows plenty of emotional attachment. Rachel Weisz does a solid job portraying Kathryn I feel and giving equally strong performances are Vanessa Redgrave as Madeleine, who tries to help her and David Strathairn as Peter Ward, who we can't be sure if he's on Kathryn's side or not. There are some very tense moments between the trafficking victims and the authorities, its almost scarily realistic. Its a very tense movie in which emotions run high and it really brings home how broken society is or was in that region at that time. Some of the dialogue is sure to infuriate most viewers, those in authority defending what went on, claiming the victims are nothing more than '**** of war - it happens!' claims someone who works high up in the UN, for one.
The movie is clearly quite dark, both in subject matter and also equally in lighting for the majority of it, so be advised to make sure your TV screen is quite clear from reflections etc. before watching, that might help. There aren't many action scenes in terms of car chases or fancy visual effects, although the scars and injuries shown among other things do all look hauntingly realistic. Its very tense and atmospheric and the camerawork is varied, with some shaky shots at certain points using different hiding places to film from adding to the tension somewhat, making it feel a bit grittier I suppose - there's one scene where the camera approaches Kathryn from behind while she's in the UN company building, making you wonder if someone was about to attack her and reinforcing the feeling that she's not safe, even where she should be. Also the background music and score also help to add to the very tense atmosphere throughout...towards the end, I was very engrossed in it and as the tension builds, you honestly wonder if Kathryn can make it out unscathed and who will back her and who won't. There is obviously violence, some moderate scenes are shown but there are, thankfully, no very graphic actual **** scenes and indeed this movie comes with a 15 rating and not an 18 rating, I'd imagine due to that - its grim enough as it is, I think that says it all.
The movie ends with (as is common with such based on real life events/true story movies), a black screen with white text across bringing the viewer up to speed on what happened after the events that had just been shown - the current status quo as it were and that is quite saddening to read as well, its certainly a movie that makes you think - can we really trust organisations to protect those they claim to be?.
Yes, I'd recommend this movie if the topic or plot is one that you feel intrigued by, although it won't be for everyone and isn't particularly easy viewing. The cast is decent and the movie is well filmed, its quite convincing with good performance and the use of camerawork (angles and shooting styles) as well as the background music and score help add to the tension. Knowing that this is inspired by actual events will probably make most viewers decide to tune in - I feel it was a well made movie, although its quite frustrating given what happened and it will likely make you question things but thats the point of it really, I suppose it is a movie that had to be made, if it makes you questions things, so thats good.
very good film, the storyline was dark throughout therefore I was expecting a ending that shown justice.
It proved how the justice system if very corrupt and that there should be a change.
Based on a true story which shocked me even more.
Worth a look for a better understanding of what the justice system can do to innocent people.
The U.N. was involved in sex trafficking throughout Bosnia during the late 90's. Think about that statement for a moment. Think about the implications behind what's just been said there. It's absolutely mind-boggling. And it's the thematic spine of Larysa Kondracki's "The Whistleblower," a cutting, stomach-churning look at some of the hardest truths about failed diplomacy that I've ever seen in a film. This is a rough go, that's for sure. And definitely not for the faint of heart. But it's the pathos and energy of Rachel Weisz's lead performance that ultimately keeps you in your seat, willing enough to see through the dingy, piss-to-a-boil-inducing amorality on display in some scenes. This is a movie that I'm glad happened about a series of events that I'm absolutely disgusted happened. It should be witnessed by all.
An unflinching look at real life horror, with a great performance by Rachel Weisz, but marred by a meandering, sloppy script and poor direction. By the end I was informed, outraged and disgusted by what goes on, but for all its graphic honesty, this movie offers little or no insight, and I was just left wanting to take a shower.
Production Company
Samuel Goldwyn Films,
Whistleblower (Gen One),
Barry Films,
Sunrise Films (II),
Primary Productions,
First Generation Films,
Mandalay Vision,
Indomitable Entertainment,
Voltage Pictures