Educational Media Reviews Online

This film is deeply disturbing, given the content and subject matter, and should only be viewed in classes that deal with contemporary society and social problems, with appropriate warnings ahead of time and discussion afterwards. The version viewed for this review is the split screen version. The movie follows the lives and challenges of eight Nigerian women who migrated to Paris and who sell sex in order to survive. Working with a French association dedicated to protecting the rights of sex workers in Paris, the director collaborated with the Nigerian women through interviews to produce a number of fictional characters, one of whom is named "Joy." The director is dedicated to representing the experiences of migrants working in the global sex industry. "Joy" knew what she was getting into before she migrated, but she was unaware of the degree of exploitation and has tried to find help for her family and herself, but she continues selling sex. A vivid and frank presentation of the underbelly of many large cities throughout the world.