The Jammed

The Jammed

When a Chinese mother arrives in Melbourne to find her missing daughter, she enlists the help of Ashley Hudson. Hooked on caffeine and bored with her job and loveless life, Ashley reluctantly agrees to help search, and is soon drawn into the dark underworld of this cultured city as she tries to rescue three girls from a trafficking syndicate. Inspired by court transcripts and actual events, the Jammed is a social thriller about trafficking and sex slave trade in Melbourne. As the story unravels the sinister workings of illegal prostitution and government deportation is filled with twists and surprises.

Australia surely is an attractive immigration destination. It offers the dream of better life; it stands as a beacon for freedom and hope and opportunity; a nation of acceptance, tolerance, multi-culturalism, equality. But not everyone who lands on our shores is privy to this privileged view of this homeland.

this is a story about slavery, debt bondage and sexual servitude and highlights the contrast of Melbourne as a sophisticated, cultured city- with the constant human tragedy and abuse that is the reality for the victims of illegal trafficking into sexual slavery in Australia- then deportation.

It is estimated between 500 and 1000 girls are 'imported' into Australia each year by individuals and trafficking syndicates. The girls land up in brothels- usually illegal- and find themselves in sexual servitude and debt bondage. Many of the girls are aware that they are coming over as prostitutes, but are generally not informed about the contractual conditions- and essentially become 'modern salves; within a cruel system. Often when they have paid their debt back- an amount which can be nominated as high as $50,000 or the equivalent of 700 'jobs' they are then deemed 'past their used by date' or are no longer 'a fresh face'. Many have been dobbed into immigration and deported back to their home country- becoming victims a second time when they land up in the immigration system.

The film, the Jammed recently won the Interfaith Signis Award for promoting Humanitarian Values- at the 16th Brisbane International Film Festival. They stated "the Jammed is a courageous film that grabs your heart, soul and conscious…Dee McLachlan reveals not only the horror of modern human trafficking and slavery but also peels back the complex moral layers involved for everyone- including governments." 4 ½ stars "Welcome to the best Australian film of the year", Jim Schembri. The Age

Cast: Emma Lung, Veronica Sywak, Saskia Burmester, Sun ParkTitan View
Genre: Thriller
Time: 89 mins
Rated: MA15+



The Jammed