![]() Law enforcement started surveillance and collected information, and officers identified about 40 people involved in this case in one way or another. The first police report for the agency was received by the Crimean police in 2004 from a resident of Simferopol. The images of minors were then disseminated predominantly on foreign internet websites to consumers in the United States, Canada and Australia among others. The agency had many branches located throughout Ukraine, in particular in Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Simferopol. It's believed, the agency have lured approximately 1,500 girls, aged between 8 and 16. Parents, believing in opportunities for their children, brought in their kids, and the agency's workers would create explicit content. They would regularly advertise on TV, in local newspapers and radio, calling for children with a "model appearance". The agency's operations spanned several cities in Ukraine. The leaders attracted minors with the prospect of modeling opportunities, only to involve them in illicit activities. Operating predominantly in Kyiv with branches in cities like Kharkiv and Simferopol, the agency, named "Alex Model" ( Ukrainian: Алекс-Модел), was identified as one of the major producers and distributors of child pornographic content which was branded under several names throughout the world using "LS" abbreviature as LS-Models, LS-Magazine, LS-Girls, LS-Studio, LS-Island, LS-Land, LS-Dreams, LSMODELCLUB (LS Model Club). The ring had operated since 2001 and used a modeling agency as a front. And of course if she was supernatural, we'd have a completely different film on our hands - High Plains Drifter.The 2004 Ukrainian child pornography raids occurred a few months before the First Orange Revolution, when police in Ukraine raided a softcore child pornography ring operating in the cities of Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Simferopol. ![]() The problem with the Haley character is that she would have to be supernatural to accomplish the things she does in this film. Both women are terrifying through the cold precision of their revenge. Ellen Page's Haley character is similar to Sigourney Weaver's character in the Polanski film. At times Hard Candy reminded me of Polanski's Death and the Maiden, though H.C. And though I was annoyed by the contrivances and implausibilities of the script, I found myself the next day thinking about some of the issues raised therein. But there are some genuinely suspenseful moments in the film, although in the hands of lesser actors these scenes would disintegrate. Maybe I'm just a sucker for movies with tiny casts and realtime pacing. Finally a young actress who is more than just a pretty face - I'm so tired of the Natalie Portmans, the Hillary Duffs, and the Jessica Albas of the world. I look forward to seeing her in many films to come. ![]() She's good even when the script can't match her talent. Her performance is brilliant and even frightening at times. ![]() Ellen Page as the young girl is absolutely fantastic. Patrick Wilson does a fine job as a "suspected" pedophile. I still think it is worth seeing for the strength of the leads alone. It tries to be clever by pulling a role reversal - but this eventually wears thin and the dialog becomes didactic and contrived. In it's best moments this film explores the complexities of vengeance and psychology. I was quite intrigued for the first forty minutes. I just screened this film at LGF last night. ![]()
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