I watched a movie last week. I was so moved by it that I watched it again. I couldn’t get it out of my mind. I still can’t.
It bothered me, convicted me, and left a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach.
From the co-producers of God’s Not Dead, Caged No More exposes the dark and evil realities of the world’s fastest growing crime – sex trafficking. Every thirty seconds someone is trafficked; it exists in every country in the world and every city in the United States. Sexual slavery entraps 27 million people and nearly two million children.
I’m ashamed to admit it, but I didn’t know the depths of sex trafficking until I watched Caged No More. I was appalled, even embarrassed to have been so far removed from an epidemic that is taking the lives of people every minute of every day.
Inspired by real events and adapted from a novel written by Molly Venzke, Caged No More tells the story of a southern woman named Aggie Prejean and her goddaughters, Skye and Elle, who are kidnapped by their own hateful father who finds himself deeply indebted to a drug cartel. In an attempt to pay his debt, he takes his daughters to Greece to be sold into the sex trade. As details of their disappearance come to light, Aggie goes to the girls’ wealthy philanthropic uncle for help. He and his son Wil, former Special Forces, begin a global rescue effort to save the girls. Aggie’s faith is her motivation, and she refuses to give up until the girls are found.
The film stars Loretta Devine, Kevin Sorbo, Alan Powell, Anthony Evans and Cassidy Gifford. It also includes appearances by Gov. Bobby Jindal, Natalie Grant, Gretchen Carlson, and Kathie Lee Gifford.
Caged No More is a thriller that entertains as well as educates and engages viewers on the realities of sex trafficking. There was a point in the film where I literally felt my heart pounding. It’s that good … and that hard … and that real.
But of course, a film of this nature doesn’t come without some cautions of which viewers should be mindful. Caged No More is a “must-see” film in my opinion, but it is clearly not family friendly. I would never show it to young children. The subject content is handled as tastefully and modestly as possible without watering down the realities of sexual slavery. Scenes inside the Greek brothels are disturbing but not salacious. A depiction of young girls being sold and bought at an auction is nauseating but again not indecent. I commend the filmmakers for addressing the subject of sex trafficking without exposing viewers to overt sexual scenes.
However, there are some indirect references to sex and some cleavage shown as well as a brief glimpse of erotic graffiti in the background. The film contains some violence including fights, beatings, and shootings. Sadly, there are multiple uses of the God’s name in vain throughout the film. That’s what bothers me the most.
For some, these cautions may be a deal breaker when it comes to viewing the film. I respect that, and I’m certainly not telling you to ignore your convictions. But I do encourage you to join the movement to end sexual slavery. The end of the film implores viewers to do the same. Educate yourself on the atrocities of sexual slavery and ask God to soften your heart and spur you to take action in a way that would bring Him glory.
“We hope people will see Caged No More and leave with a passion to become modern-day abolitionists and help us in the fight for the most basic human rights,” said director and producer Lisa Arnold.
Caged No More is now available on DVD. You can also bring the film to your local theater by hosting a screening. For more details, click here.
To contact the National Trafficking Hotline, call 1(888) 373-7888. Click here for resources to combat human trafficking.
