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| Jordan James in Amexica. |
Crash course
By Aja Davis
Here in Los Angeles we go on with our usual routines everyday. We are lucky to live in a place that is so truly diverse. Because of the city’s overflowing melting pot, it is not unusual to see faces not similar to our very own. However, what we might not think about is the possibility that some of those foreign faces are victims of predatory people who have abducted them to make a quick buck.
Opening our minds to the possibility, writer-director Ronald Krauss’ informative and entertaining 23-minute film, Amexica, is the story of a boy (Jordan James) from Mexico who is used in a get rich scheme by money hungry con artists -- who are also partners and lovers. The young woman (AnnaLynne McCord of 90210 fame) and the man (Joseph Ferrante) pretend the boy is their son while involving him in staged and dangerous car accidents.
Amexica’s definition derives from the condition that is the result of the accelerated migration of people into California -- a condition resulting in human trafficking or illegal border crossing.
Within the first five minutes of the film the young boy, who does not speak nor understand English, is riding in the back of the car, looking up at the sky and palm trees in a sense of awe. You get the notion he is feeling the new place he is in is an escape from where he is from. Little does he know that the near future does not hold new and wonderful opportunities, but a series of life threatening situations. There are a few of times there is a sense of remorse on behalf of the captors, but it is not enough to return the boy to safety -- wherever that may be. Only the boy can save himself.
Amexica is truly a short film keeping you engaged while definitely making one realize human trafficking is not just what you see in the movies, it is real, even if it takes a short film to show it.
