Powerful Film I Am Slave Was Shown For Anti-Slavery Day Yesterday by Unchosen.. Find Out Why This Is A Must See
The 2010 Channel 4 film I am Slave was screened by anti human trafficking charity, Unchosen who fight human trafficking with national film campaigns, for anti-slavery day yesterday - 18th October - at the Little Theatre. Trustee and Director of Finance and Web Communications, Sharon, tells us why everyone should see this film!
(PICTURES: I AM SLAVE FILM POSTER, DIRECTOR GABRIEL RANGE, I AM SLAVE SCENE, ANTI-TRAFFICKING IMAGE, UNCHOSEN LOGO)
Why did you choose 'I am Slave' for this anti-slavery day film screening at the LIttle?
The main reason is it's based on a true story. Malia is not her real name, but everything within the film is her actual story. Malie was kidnapped in her home country of Sudan and eventually brought to the UK and finally rescued in the UK.
After a slow recovery, Malia wanted to share her story, for us all to understand the attrocities that happen to victims. She rarely appears in person at an event, but occasionally silently as an onlooker.
For me, if people begin to understand that trafficking and slavery are happening here and it is on our doorstep, then more Malia's will be rescued, because we will be aware of the signs.
I have chosen I Am Slave selfishly to be screened in my city because it is an outstanding piece of work. I have deliberately put one of our Interns into our London venue as lead, and another as lead in Bristol. Unchosen runs in three cities on Anti-Slavery Day and I particularly wanted to be at home, for the second UK Anti-Slavery Day.
Gabriel (Range - the Director) humbly accepted our invite to come and talk at the 
panel Q&A afterwards. He is excited to be coming to Bath, therefore I know we will make him welcome, and I pray for a full house.
This film was shown on Channel 4 for its anti-slavery season - and features disturbing scenes...
Yes that's when I saw it and decided right then to track down the production company to use it for Unchosen.
Domestic servitude of the nature Malia goes through is one area of human trafficking, all human trafficking is disturbing. Domestic servitude however could easily exist in a hidden part of Bath, because it is an affluent area, and that was another reason I chose this film.
Is this a film we should all watch in order to effect a real societal change around slavery?
Simple answer is yes. The writer Jeremy Brock and producer Andrea Calderwood won an Oscar for their film The Last King of Scotland. They came together to develop the script with Gabriel. It is a powerful piece of film, made by exceptional people within the film world. I hope it draws the attention of many and encourages Christians within Bath to watch and hear what Gabriel has to say.Do you think the gritty scenes of oppression and sexual abuse reflect the reality of being a slave today?
Unfortunately yes, but this film is not voyeuristic or shocking in a sexual sense, Gabriel has treated his subject matter with care, hence why I chose it. The film has a 16 rating, and we must remember at all times that it is based on a true story.So the heroine - Malia - could be typical of any young girl abducted or sold for slavery today?
Malia was taken from Sudan when she was a young girl and she is the kind of 
victim that safe houses in our area are helping to recover in secure and safe surroundings.
In the next few years if we begin to accept and understand that 21st century slavery is a serious issue here in the UK, and accept it is very much an underground one, we can bring about change.
I have chosen all our films (Unchosen has an annual film campaign combatting trafficking) carefully this year, and all of them are either based on a true story or actual documentaries, therefore no argument can be made that they are being too dramatic and or not factual.
Why use film to combat human trafficking?
I know that what Unchosen does works. We have proof through our strong monitoring applications and the recognition we have gained within the UK in the past four years.
I would like Bath to engage with the issue more, I would like more Christians to understand awareness is a vital part of the jigsaw and not to be ignored. We have to look at the issue holistically, otherwise we a merely sticking a plaster on a problem.
Why do you include directors 'Q & A' sessions at screenings?
Bringing the director to a screening is like dangling a carrot. It encourages the audience to come, especially people who wouldn't normally come and watch an issue led event and who know little or nothing about human trafficking.
The panels at screenings have relevent professionals on them to give the audience the true and known facts within the local community; hence Barnardos Manager 
from Bristol and the local Police Officer here in Bath joined Gabriel for the post-film Q and A session. A last minute addition to the panel Sian Turner, from the South West offices of the UK Human Trafficking Centre.
I expect the majority of the audience, like I did four years ago, to go away and want to act and do something. Thats why we do what we do.
How do you think your voluntary work fits with your Christian faith.
I was asked recently at a Christian supper in Bath, what do you feel you are doing for God with your work! When Christians work with victims, and, or are able to bring many people to understand Jesus we can all shout Hallelujah. When like Wilberforce 200 years ago you have to fight hard to raise awareness that slavery still exists, in order to change local and national policy, which in turn will disrupt traffickers and rescue victims, then I have found it is not as simple or easy to convince people that your work is important.
But one amazing point for myself, and our team is that God knows, and every time it gets any one of us down, he shines a light on us and something massively important happens to encourage us to continue. And continue we will in Leeds in November, Birmingham in February and Manchester in March.
