Amexica exposes harsh realities of human trafficking through impressive performances
Amexica, from writer/director Ron Krauss, was hands down the best short film I screened at the 2010 Arizona Underground Film Festival–and in no way is this a slight to the other films there. Amexica was simply just that good.
Amexica is the tale of human trafficking but told in a different way, from a different viewpoint. Two con artists, played by Joseph Ferrante and AnnaLynne McCord, buy young children from Mexico. They use the children as part of a scheme to make money and do it quickly.
The most recent child they acquired is a young boy (Jordan James) whose name we never learn. The boy speaks no English so he is unaware of what is going on. The man and the woman pass the boy off as their son. How they make money off him is truly heart breaking.
The woman stands along a busy street and waits for an expensive car to come by. When one does she pushes the boy in front of it causing him to get hit. Naturally the drivers freak out and are willing to do whatever it takes to keep this from the police including cutting the man and the woman a large check.
One day the boy sneaks out of the hotel where the three are currently staying. He heads off to a busy street and does the only thing he knows how. This quickly changes all three of their lives.
The film is very emotional and the acting is superb. Ferrante is extraordinary in the lead role of the man. The way he is able to convey the growth and change of his character to the audience in a short film is truthfully an amazing feat. McCord is equally impressive as the woman who is as ugly on the inside as she is beautiful on the out.
Amexica is a short film that everyone needs to see. It sheds light on the terrible things that occur as a result of human trafficking. Most Americans probably aren’t even aware of a lot of things that go on in this film, so I applaud Mr. Krauss for exposing it to the masses. I truly hope this film makes it out to much larger audiences so it can have the best possible impact.
This film is highly entertaining but it’s more than that. It can make a difference. Demand this film be shown in your area. It’s very rare that a film can have an impact like Amexica, and it’s even more rare when the film is a short film. Amexica has it all.
View the trailer here:
