The Jammed
Australian films don’t get better than ‘The Jammed’. We recently caught this very well made flick starring Ashley Hudson (Veronica Sywak) who lives a normal life working in an everyday office in Melbourne. By chance, she meets Sunee (Amanda Ma), who has come from China searching for her missing daughter, Rubi (Sun Park). Ashley reluctantly agrees to help Sunee, but the trail proves to be a dangerous one.
The film starts off with a traditionally frenetic “what the hell is going on?” opening sequence as an illegal immigrant working as a prostitute undergoes interrogation in an immigration office, on the verge of being deported.
We then jump back in time a mere three weeks for the back-story and are introduced to five women. Crystal (Emma Lung), Vanya (Saskia Burmeister) & Rubi who have been imported into Australia with false papers and forced to work as prostitutes. Sunee is a frightened Chinese mother with a purse full of cash looking for her missing daughter. Linking these women is Ashley.
The film is unrelenting in its detailed dramatic exposition of the physical and psychological conditions these women endure. It also explains how criminal brothel owners are able to enslave women without the need for chains, and without the fear that they will run off at the first opportunity and tell the police.
This low budget, locally made masterpiece further outlines one’s faith in just how good Australian social realist flicks can be. ‘The Jammed’ has been skillfully made in every way and all of the actors are remarkable; it’s better than many more heavily publicized Australian films. Do yourself a favour & go out & catch this little gem!
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