The movie The Wrong Light from 2016 is a thought-provoking documentary that tells the story of a journalist named Joshuah Bearman who investigates a supposed shelter for young girls in Thailand run by a charismatic activist named Mickey Choothesa. Mickey claims to be rescuing impoverished girls from the sex trade and providing them with a safe, nurturing environment to heal and grow. However, as Bearman digs deeper into Mickey's shelter and its past and present residents, he begins to uncover inconsistencies in Mickey's stories and troubling allegations of exploitation and abuse.
The Wrong Light chronicles Bearman's journey as he uncovers more and more evidence indicating that Mickey's shelter may be a front for a larger human trafficking ring. Through interviews with former residents, their families, and experts in the field of human trafficking, the film paints a picture of a complex and insidious problem that is all too common in this part of the world.
One of the most striking features of The Wrong Light is the way it gives voice to the young women who have been victimized by Mickey's shelter. These brave survivors share their stories with Bearman and the audience, describing the horrors they endured both within the shelter and after they left. Their stories are heartbreaking and infuriating, but they also serve as a powerful reminder of the resilience and strength of the human spirit.
Another notable aspect of the film is the way it explores the complex motivations of those who get involved in the fight against human trafficking. While most of the people interviewed in the film are deeply committed to the cause, there are also some who seem to have hidden agendas or who are more interested in advancing their own careers than in helping the girls they claim to be serving. The Wrong Light does not shy away from these uncomfortable truths, nor does it paint a simplistic picture of good guys and bad guys.
Overall, The Wrong Light is a gripping, emotionally charged documentary that sheds light on an urgent and often overlooked issue. Its focus on the experiences of the survivors of human trafficking sets it apart from other films on the subject, giving it a sense of urgency and immediacy that is hard to forget. While it is a difficult film to watch at times, it is also an important one, and one that deserves to be seen by anyone who cares about human rights and social justice.
The Wrong Light is a 2017 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 18 minutes.
It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.8 and a MetaScore of 54.
