Austrian-Iranian filmmaker Sudabeh Mortezai’s “Joy” explores the harsh reality surrounding sex slave trade across Africa and Europe. The movie, which is an hour and forty-one minutes long, will come to Netflix this Friday.
Just as the name suggests, ‘Joy’ which is supposed to mean everything good is re-characterized with a forced sense of peace. Played by newcomer ‘Joy Anulika Alphonsus’, Joy is working to pay off her trafficking debt which she owed her madam ‘Angela Ekeleme Pius’ to secure her permanent residence abroad (Austria).
Her magnetic, watchful, yet near-depleted eyes tell this prostitute’s story as heartbreakingly as the documentary-tinged scenes, which start and end in Nigeria, but most take place in Austria. The movie also featured a range of newcomers like new Nigerian girl, Precious (Precious Mariam Sanusi) who delivered the character with excellence.
In the movie ‘Joy’ there is a mixed feeling of protectiveness, exasperation, clear-eyed survival, and as strong a need as ever to find a way out.
Visual Magazine 