Conroy Canter, the director of “Trafficked,” talked with TSD freelancer Dalisia Brye about the movie that explores “the business of modern slavery.”

Hundreds of women are kidnapped or manipulated into the world of human sex trafficking everyday. Profiting over 100 billion dollars a year, the trafficking industry has surpassed the combined profit margins of Google, Intel and Microsoft, making the illegal number one in the sex industry.

The movie “Trafficked” – directed by Conroy Canter – is a sobering movie and The New Tri-State Defender got an advanced look at it last week (Oct. 12). Based on the award-winning book “Sex Trafficking: Inside the Business of Modern Slavery” by Siddharth Kara, the film gave a play by-play on what happens when women are snatched away from their families and bought to fulfill the desires of the men seeking them.

“The purpose of this film is to bring awareness,” said Canter, who was at the sneak-peek performance the Malco Paradisio. “This isn’t something that’s just happening in the US, but it’s happening all over the world and we must bring an end to it.”

The film focuses on three women forced into the international sex trade. They were  brought to a brothel compound in Houston,where they eventually became sex slaves. You meet Sarah, an orphan, forced out of a group home on her 18th birthday. A shady character protrayed compelling by Ashley Judd manipulates Sarah’s guardian and conspires to kidnap her.

Sarah then meets Amba from India and Mali from Nigeria. They, too, have been ripped from the course of their lives and the trio forms a bond. Survivors of horrorific beatings and rape, the women devise a plan to escape.

During the movie, you could hear gasps and see tears from the audience.

“This is so needed,” said Carlitta Anderson. “It’s sad to see how easy it is to prey on women and put them into these scary situations, I can’t even imagine.”

At times, some of the movie-goers dropped their heads at heart-wrenching scenes.

A round table discussion followed the presentation. Many had questions about how to prevent sex trafficking, including we could be done to protect the vulnerable in Greater Memphis.

“A lot of women coming from very unfortunate or delicate situations are the easiest to target,” said Canter. “We must be able to provide resources and outlets for women so they won’t become victims of such a horrific industry.”

Benefits from the screening went to Palmer Home, a Memphis children’s charity.

(For additional details and showtimes visit www.traffickedmovie.com.)