Eden
Starring: Jamie Chung, Matt O'Leary, Beau Bridges
Director: Megan Griffiths
Rating: 4/5
It was back in 2011 when we last saw Megan Griffiths in the director's chair, but now she is back with her new film Eden.
The movie is based on the staggering true life story of Chong Kim, and sees actress Jamie Chung deliver the performance of her career so far.
Eden, a young Korean-American girl, is abducted near her home and forced into prostitution by a domestic human and drug trafficking ring.
Throughout the two years she is held, Eden reluctantly ensures her own survival by carving out power and influence within the very organization that has imprisoned her.
Inspired by a harrowing true story, Eden peers into the darkest corners of America and attempts to discover the humanity within.
First and foremost, this is not the type of movie that we are use to seeing actress Jamie Chung appear in; after this performance many people will be asking why?
She really does show a very different side to herself as an actress with this central role. It is a strong, engaging and moving performance from her as she really gets under the skin of the character and understand what she endured.
Chung is helped by a fantastically written script, as this is an engaging and engrossing story from start to finish.
But at no point does director Megan Griffiths sensationalise any part of the issue that is human trafficking.
Griffiths wants to give us an insight into that world, rather than a movie that is about law enforcement saving the day; which is what we so often seen in movies like these.
But the director has delivered this movie in a way that lets you see the dark-underbelly of this 'business' without ever making it too grim and unbearable to watch.
Eden is a movie about a brave women who endures so much and yet is determined to survive.
This story will hook you from start to finish and is made all the most powerful by the fact that is it based on a true story.
Eden is out now.