Every year, 800,000 people are trafficked around the world—10,000 of them into the United States—as slaves. The movie “Trade” brings this issue to the forefront of American media with the story of Adriana, a young Mexican girl, and her brother Jorge.

Adriana is 13 when international sex traffickers snatch her off the streets of Mexico City. The only person willing to help her is her older brother, Jorge, who follows the kidnappers and their group of human cargo into the U.S. He is powerless to do anything to save her from the horrors of trafficking until he teams up with a Texas police officer. They have to work to find Adriana and rescue her before her kidnappers sell her to the highest bidder.

“Trade” is a stirring film that makes no exceptions or apologies by depicting life as a sex slave. It is not a movie that dramatizes or glorifies the issue. Instead, it does its best to show the lives of those affected by human trafficking. It is shocking to see how traffickers and their clients dehumanize and abuse other people. However, this honesty is what makes the movie that much better.

This movie is important because trafficking is an enormous problem today. Some scenes are simply unbearable to watch because what happens in the movie happens all the time in real life. “Trade” will make audiences uncomfortable, but it will also hopefully raise awareness.

“Trade” is very disturbing, but is also well done. The characters are realistic, each with his or her flaws and strengths. The writers emphasize the cruelty of sex traffickers without making them into caricatures.

This movie is undeniably dark, but it does have its happy moments. The bond characters make with other people who have lived entirely different lives is one of the few bright areas of “Trade.” They cross language and cultural barriers to support one another. Within all the bleak situations, this optimism is inspiring and gives audiences hope.

Those who are looking for a fun time at the movies may not like this film. It is impossible to say that “Trade” will leave viewers smiling. In fact, this movie is extremely depressing. However, everyone should still see it, or at least be informed of the problem that so few know about and even fewer try to stop. People should not be afraid of reality if they want to change the world.