The focus of this film is a former sex-worker named Marlene Carson who now runs a shelter to help victims here in Columbus. Carson was forced to be a sex-worker as a teenager and was one for years, until she was able to get out. In the film she recalls stories of her traumatic experiences as a sex-worker. She started a shelter called Rahab's Hideaway to help victims who want out of sex-working.
The film's is structured around Carson's monologue about her experiences as a sex-worker and the development and evolution of Rahab's Hideaway. Many of the stories Carson tells throughout the film I found to be particularly difficult to process because they were she was so candid about the terrible realities of victims forced to be sex-workers. One of her stories was about a couple helping her and trying to get her out of the industry by pursuing charges against her pimp at the time. But, when the pimp was arrested and she thought she was free of sex-work, she found out that he had already sold her to another pimp. Her stories such as these that form pieces of the film are sad and emotional, but nonetheless the film finishes with hope. The shelter Carson started has helped so many and Carson herself has shown demonstrated the power of resilience and hope. The film does a great job of highlighting Carson's stories while maintaining a level of positivity based on the good work Carson has done for sex-workers in the area and the community.
I think that the interview style works for this film because it allows for the audience to hear Carson's story directly from her and to see her face and the emotion it exposes while hearing her stories.
Good points. This film is a great example of how a powerful story is half the battle. Ms Carson's story is gripping and tragic, and her way of talking about it is such a strong story of hope that you hardly miss (but do miss a little) footage of her out and about. If the filmmakers had had more time with her they could have included more footage of her out in the street, or even at the halfway house she runs. There may have been legal concerns about what they could film there, but mostly they ran out of time; it was hard to schedule time to film, and I think the only had one afternoon.
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