The Whistleblower

Having served in Bosnia (Task Force 3/5 CAV located near Brcko) most of 1996..and later seconded to the Organization for Security and Cooperation In Europe/OSCE and very familiar with the IPTF (International Police Task Force). The film very accurately depicts the true account of trafficking in women in Bosnia (BiH) and Kosovo. Women were moved from place to place for prostitution and general "bar girl" work. Some men both European and American as part of the IPTF facilitated the movement, incarceration and facilitation.I spent a total of 45 months in the Balkans up and to the completion of the air war in Kosovo early June of 1999.These "crimes against humanity" while working under the UN mandate as part of the IPTF Mission were minimized or dismissed which led to the woman depicted in the film's employment termination. She did sue in the UK and was awarded money...how much..I cannot recall.The contracting company hired by the US State Department for employment as an IPTF monitor was Dyncorp, now owned by the Cerberus Capital Management, LLC. Dyncorp had a major portion of the Iraqi training mission and is responsible for a major portion of logistics in support of the mission in Afghanistan.Not one person was indicted nor served jail time..European or AmericanHaiti/95;BiH/Croatia/96-1999;Nuba Mts, Sudan/2002; Khost Prov, Afghanistan/2003-4;Iraq/2005-6; Juba, Sudan/2008-9; Uganda/2010

This is an extremely disturbing film about post war Bosnia and the human trafficking that prevails in that country. The inhumane, savage treatment of young women is so painful to watch. Young girls in their early teens are forced to engage in sexual acts. If they resist in any way, they are tortured in such ways that are unspeakable. The Bosnian men, on the whole, are crude, brutal, insensitive clods.Kathy Bolkovac, a Nebraskan Police Officer, goes to Bosnia as a Peacekeeper and is confronted with the horrors of human trafficking which she desperately tries to do something about. To compound the issue many of her fellow American Peacekeepers are involved in the sex trafficking and are receiving payoffs from the brothels, and are in cahoots with the corrupt police. And the U.N. refuses to do anything to protect these young women.Ms. Bolkovac is summarily escorted out of Bosnia because of her investigation into the sex trafficking. However, she does get to eventually report what she has learned to the BBC. Yet, the sex trafficking still goes on in Bosnia.This story is based on actual events. Rachel Weisz as Kathy Bolkovac is outstanding.I was on the edge of my seat watching the horrific events in this film.

Twenty years ago I would not have believed the revelations presented here about the UN's direct and indirect involvement in human trafficking. In my naiveté, I would have found it difficult to believe the depth of barbarity portrayed by these traffickers in Bosnia. The fact that none of the "private contractors" involved (like those operating in Iraq and Afghanistan with the blessings of the US government) were ever prosecuted in their home countries, and that the whistleblower has been unable to find a job within the international community is damning enough. The fish smells first from the head. Who is the head here? 5 stars

Incredibly well made movie. Human trafficking is a sick problem that deserves more attention than this movie. The Whistleblower brought human trafficking to the surface with the gripping reality of what happens behind closed doors.The movie shows trafficking of humans is truly like an iceburg, it barely touches the surface of what is going on all over the world in every state and country. It was a difficult movie to watch because of the sheer reality of the horrific crimes that throw away the lives of children and teens ~ human beings treated like garbage. A while ago I came across an article on the internet that showed human trafficking routes in my own state. There are a number of news reports of human trafficking even in CT. It's shocking. There should be a special taskforce just for these crimes. Makes you want to put chips in your children. Devastating! A must see movie.Rachel Weisz is excellent, as always.Movie is for mature audiences.

We enjoyed the movie and its telling of this tragically true story. While the production was well done and well acted, we are reminded of just how cruel people can be and how powerless the UN is at protecting individual rights and safety. The movie closed with too little information about the "whistleblower" and no info on the circumstances or follow up to the women being enslaved. I was emotionally drained by the end of this movie. Not to be watched for entertainment value, it is a hard hitting movie that will leave you wondering what can be done to save these young women and why so little is being done now.

The subject matter is tough to watch as this film explores the dark side of human nature. It depicts people who are supposed to be on the side of good, of idealism, and humanity gorge themselves on lust and the misery of the helpless.Ms Weisz does an excellent job of portraying a sensitive, righteous soul who believes she has joined an organization to protect people after the war in Bosnia. But what she finds are the UN Contractors she works for involved in the trafficking of women in the most cruel and inhumane way.I hate bullies and these evil men have made it an institution and unfortunately are never called to account. Meanwhile her character is jeered, and her life put into danger. Not for the easily depressed. The production itself is well done and conveys the dark and somber tone of the subject throughout.

Sounds like a very good film and right up my street. However, sound was poor with plenty of background noise that appeared to mask some of the dialogue. No English subtitles (except for the dialogue spoken in Serb/Bosnian,etc.) so we were unable to fully follow the plot. What a shame as many viewers who don't have a hearing problem rate the film so highly.In my view the best production made about the subject is the 2006 mini-series 'Sex Traffic', with John Simm, and that does have English subtitles.Amazon's product description is wrong --- this High Fliers dvd has no English subtitles. Hope that helps anyone interested in the film that expects subtitles.

I’m always wary of films stating ‘inspired by actual events’ but this 2010 story of Kathryn Bolkovac, a Nebraska police officer who joined a private corporation as a United Nations peacekeeper in post-war Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1999 is worth telling. Working her way up the corporations ranks she discovered a sex trafficking ring serving and helped by her own companies employees, with the UN's SFOR peacekeeping force turning a blind eye and tries to stop the sex trade but is stunned by her employers, and governmental attitudes to her claims.Despite the storyline, this is told without the need of nudity [which is only seen in a few Polaroid snapshots] but concentrates on the fear instilled in the girls and the menacing casual attitudes she encounters by many of her fellow workers. More harder hitting is that it actually highlights the hypocrisy of the UN and government departments as they hide behind Diplomatic Immunity for crimes committed by their workers. It also notes the same company is still active and working in Afghanistan and Iraq on lucrative contracts. Who says crime does not pay?The single disc loads to 4trailers before going to main menu offering play, scene selection, audio [2.0/5.1] and bonus [an interview with cast and crew]. it should be noted that the two girls featured are based on composites and the events portrayed have actually been toned down.Whether you like this or not, the film deserves a ***** for simply telling the story, warts and all. Hats off to her for her bravery.

Excellent movie based on a true, positively gut-wrenching, sickening story of human trafficking during the Bosnian War in the mid 1990s. An operation run and supported by employees of the UN; US Military and a British security firm all profiting from the misery of abducted young women bully local criminal gangs who were mercilessly drugged, beaten, sometimes murdered to provide brothels for the above low-life’s. Truly sickening and despairing were it not for the heroic actions of this one woman - Kathryn Balkovac - an American police officer from Nebraska who took a job with a security firm in Bosnia. She risked everything - including her life - to expose the ‘collateral damage’ of this pitiful war and the utter vileness of those who exploit others when given the opportunity...

A rather unpleasant topic to watch , about human trafficking of young girls to be sex workers in the Balkans, uncovered complicity of private security forces contracted to the US military by an attached Nebraska cop exposes everything, except in the end no one is charged or held accountable and the billion dollar contracts continue, while the protagonist in this is now having to live in anonymity in the Netherlands after being unable to get a job ever again in US law enforcement !!!, so what was the point I hear you ask.......good question??.

This is an exceptional film, but be warned, it does not make for easy viewing, especially when you know that it is based on true events.In places, it is extremely brutal and painful to watch, especially if you are a woman - sorry, but this is a fact - and you absolutely will find yourself insanely angered and upset by the subject matter and unable to believe that this kind of cruelty goes on in the world - but it does and this film shows you just how it does.The performances are brilliant - even by the lesser known actors and especially by the young actress Roxana Condurache, who plays the character Raya. There is one scene in the movie where this character is violently violated in order to punish her and keep her in check, and it is unbearable to watch.It is one of those films that makes you think very deeply about the position of women in this world and asks you to take action - may be this is the purpose of the film - or may be this is just the effect it had on me? And the courage of Kathryn Bolkovac is, in itself an inspiration.This is not a film to watch for entertainment.