The Candy Shop, by Whitestone Motion Pictures, is without a doubt one of the most important films of the year. Indeed, it is arguably one of the most important films of the decade. The Candy Shop is described by its creators as “a fairytale about the sexual exploitation of children,” and this proves to be a remarkably clear and succinct summary of the film, which aims at bringing to light the terrible reality of child sex trafficking through a symbolic format. In tackling such a significant social issue, The Candy Shop rightfully deserves praise and attention, but what is all the more remarkable is the quality of the film itself. Other films might have been content in bringing this topic to light, but Whitestone has shown its commitment to the cause it champions by making a truly incredible film.
In many ways, The Candy Shop is like Willy Wonka meets Sweeney Todd with a truly sinister edge. The film opens with its main character, a boy named Jimmy, tending his bedridden mother. Jimmy, it is revealed, works as a paper boy for a local grocer across the street from the titular Candy Shop. The Candy Shop, whose patrons are all adult men, is managed by its mysterious owner (played by the truly incomparable Doug Jones), who is dressed and made up in the manner of some sinister clown; during the one scene where the owner is seen without his makeup, he is revealed to be not merely sinister but withered and deformed as well, qualities that he hides behind his jovial disguise.
Jimmy soon realizes that there is something dreadfully wrong with the Candy Shop, into which young girls are lured never to be seen again. As the Candy Shop owner gleefully explains, “Girls go in, and candy comes out!” And these girls-turned-candy are then sold to the store’s eager customers. And lest we think that only the lowest of the low would even think of supporting such a monstrous practice, the owner reminds us that “I do business with very important people.” The Candy Shop owner enjoys anonymity from his crimes, as people like Jimmy’s employer insist that “it’s none of our business” and turn a blind eye. Jimmy is even tempted toward the corruption of the candy trade when the Candy Shop owner invites him on as an apprentice, and offers him the money he so desperately needs to save his sick mother. But Jimmy finally realizes that he cannot stand by and allow the crimes of the Candy Shop to continue, and he descends into the workshop beneath the Candy Shop to confront the owner and stop the horrible trade.
The film was done in conjunction with the Doorpost Film Project, 12Stone Church and StreetGrace, in an effort to highlight the terrible reality of child sex trafficking, specifically in the city of Atlanta which ranks as the number one city in the United States plagued by this terrible crime, and the tenth in the entire world. One thing that is truly remarkable about the approach this film has taken is that at no point during the story is the topic of sex ever raised. But at the same time, the metaphor inherent in the “candy” symbol is so clear that even someone who has no background on the film’s underlying subject would still clearly see and understand what is being portrayed. This is truly a masterwork of film production and it is truly inspiring to see this much dedication and hard work going into bringing such an important and terrible subject to light.
If you want to know more about what can be done to stop this horrible crime, visit http://stopthecandyshop.com.
The Candy Shop Trailer from Brandon McCormick on Vimeo.
G. D. Falksen is continually impressed by the skill, dedication and hard work of Whitestone Motion Pictures and applauds their efforts in bringing this topic into the public eye. More information about him can be found on his Facebook and Twitter.
…Wow. Just from reading the description, this sounds like High Octane Nightmare Fuel. I dare not even look at the trailer. I am glad though that this exists to open the discussion on the topic though. And I am particularly fascinated by the fact that this would have fit perfectly with the old-school Grimms fairy tales.
Thanks for Posting this Mr. Falksen!
Always delighted to read your posts, and glad you have done so with candyshop!
@Moffitartan: While it is subject matter, having seen the film, the subject is handled with grace. By ignoring this film, you’re simply reinforcing it’s message, that subjects like this are all too often ignored and without acknowledgement and action, nothing will change for the better. Please watch the trailer, and the full movie once it’s released. You won’t regret it.
I just threw up in my mouth a little.
Guess I’m going to have to be the first person to say something negative about this.
Are they really raising consciousness of an issue, or just building up a modern-day bogeyman, an external recepticle for our fears about sex and children (and immigration, in the true definition of “sex trafficking,” which it sounds like they’re not using). Both activist groups against sex trafficking and skeptics agree that no one has come up with reliable numbers on the prevalence of this crime. But activists go ahead and cite numbers like “2 million children are at risk,” using the total number of runaways in the U.S. We could also say that those 2 million children are at risk for any number of other crimes. All the children in the world are at risk from the most common abuser — their parents. Activists also have the habit of citing all underage prostitution as “child sex trafficking.” Given the lack of statistics, claiming that this problem is “on the rise” is disingenuous. Here’s an interesting paper tying modern fear about sex trafficking to the white slavery panic of the 1800s:
http://www.walnet.org/csis/papers/doezema-loose.html
What does this kind of activism really accomplish? Who doesn’t already agree that the exploitation of children is horrible? What this kind of media promotes is a fetishization of sexual innocence and the virgin/whore dichotemy applied to sex workers. A sex worker is either a helpless child being abused or a fallen woman who deserves what’s coming to her. The anti-trafficking movement is deeply linked with the anti-prostitution movement, which has a bad habit of refusing to listen to the voices of actual sex workers who don’t agree with them. This dichotemy doesn’t help women and girls who are enslaved. It doesn’t help women and girls who choose sex work because they feel they have no other option. It doesn’t help ones who choose sex work because they feel it’s their best option. It doesn’t help women who are more victimized by the police than by their clients. It doesn’t help runaways forced into sex work who aren’t the innocent virgins that are profiled on activist websites, who are “problem children” who also have consensual sex. It doesn’t help us try to untangle the complex issues of sex work, the economy, and consent around older “child” sex workers (16 and over in most states) who can legally consent to sex.
I have to agree that this subject is sensitive and this film could easily be construed as having no other purpose than to shock. However, I feel film can often be a medium encompassing subjects that no other medium will touch or that people will listen to.
The film industry can do something that the religious sector cannot: it can reach millions on a regular basis and present a didactic message. Author Flannery O’Connor often used the distorted truth to emphasize her beliefs, and the film industry does relatively the same thing. By emphasizing certain themes, a film can be much more influential than a preacher. The medium is accessible, though lucrative, and presents subject matter in a way that is not antagonistic to the viewer the way a sermon or a mock gameshow might insult or frighten someone. This film is meant to be frightening, eye opening and offensive, for if the mind is not shown graphic detail (when it is expected), it can be ignored as hearsay or fobbed off as “shock value”. It takes the right combination of terror and subject matter to truly get a message across.
As a journalist in college, I did an interview with a campus religious organization who held a contest on campus that preached the reality of human trafficking through the United States. I discovered that 30% of human trafficking through the United States takes place through the I-35 corridor between Laredo, Texas and Canada. This takes sexual and slave labor prisoners straight through my home town of San Antonio. I was disgusted when I learned this. I also learned the hideous truth that fifty percent of missing persons cases result in their falling to human traffickers if they are not found within forty eight hours.
As someone who is truly disgusted with the horrible fate befalling hundreds everyday, yet feels powerless to stop this invisible crime, I would be delighted to see this film and encourage others to see it as well. As much as we’d like to, we cannot go through life pretending these things don’t exist. These are not ghosts, and if we ignore the problem, human traffickers and sex criminals will continue to practice their dirty habits, and innocent people will continue to suffer.
I’m in full agreement with blueworld. I’m completely in favor of movies like this that draw attention to these issues because awareness is, of course, part of the solution. That said, a movie like this doesn’t solve any of the problems that blueworld mentioned, and to call it “one of the most important films of the decade” is, if not misguided, then at least sensationalist.
I also find it, as blueworld said, disingenuous that in your glowing report of the film you failed to mention that you had a personal stake in the matter, as it was worked on by our friends of Penny Dreadful Productions. Don’t get me wrong, they do good work and the trailer looked great, but it may be important for readers to know that the “most important film of the year” had your friends in it for the same reasons that it’s important to know who sponsors a politician.
@@@@@ johnwilliams713: I’m not quite sure where I said I was ignoring it. Quite the contrary, I praised this film for existing and opening a dialogue on this. I just know that it would upset me to the point where I had serious depression issues all day long if I watched it. Same reason why I don’t go to see horror movies in fact. I’m content with just reading about it, and going forward from there.
@@@@@ Austin
It shouldn’t matter if the author knows the production company that put out the film, what matters is that the film is being promoted- not because of business ties- but because it’s an important topic that needs to be brought to the surface (just as you and others have said). Before I read the background behind the movie (on the stopthecandyshop website) I didn’t know that child sex trafficking was such a concern in America, let alone Atlanta. If more people who were clueless like me before are informed, then things can be done about this terrible situation.
And by accusing the author of promoting this film simply because he knows the production company, you’re implying that the subject being raised is something not worthy of public concern. You’re telling us that you don’t think anyone should care enough about stopping child sex trafficking to make a film dedicated to public awareness of that terrible crime or to bring such a film and cause to public attention. Maybe you don’t care enough about stopping sex crimes against children to discuss the topic without you’re own personal gain, but I think you’ll find that most people are sufficiently horrified by these crimes to spread awareness about them without caring about personal gain. Real or in this case, imagined.
Lady Medusa,
You clearly read my first comment, number seven, in which I explained that I was entirely in favor of films such as these because, precisely as you said, awareness is very important. Therefore, I appreciate your lengthy agreement with my comment.
I never knew this was such an issue here in the US, let alone that we are in the top 10 for this crime in the world. Had I never seen this post I would never had known. I shared this link on my FB. I also now know where my holiday charity donation is going to go http://stopthecandyshop.com/. Thank you so much for making me aware of this so now I can help.
I think anyone who would try to bash this film or try to take away from the important thing it’s doing is as bad as the men in the shop buying the candy.
Uh, “most important film of the year” might be a little much for a clumsy metaphor about child sex trafficking that never once addresses actual solutions or root causes.
@everybody else: How the hell can you not be aware of child sex trafficking? What rock do you live under? Apparently we need a heavy handed metaphorical monster who blinks stupidly at the internet instead of paying any attention at all to the world outside. Maybe Austin can have one of his friends make it and then refuse to ever ever ever talk about it, because that would be equivalent to crooked politicians taking money from evil corporations.
This whole thread is full of self-important jackholes. This one included.
I am so very proud of my Best Friend and Mentor, Doug Jones. He is not only so talented, he is also not afraid to play “The Monster”. He know that in being willing to do so, he is helping bring to light the darknesses in our world. His courage and dedication to standing up for what is good and right is an ongoing example to us all.
@@@@@ blueworld~
so, some people do agree to be in that line of work because they feel it’s their best option…but how can you say it’s a “fallen woman who deserves what’s coming to her”? some women may feel that’s their only choice, but their clients are not all saints, nor are the people they work for, and the cops can be just as dirty. so in what i’ve quoted from what you’ve typed, basically, if a woman decides to choose that way of earning a living, she deserves to get the hell beaten out of her by her clients, by her boss, by whoever she gets caught by…she deserves to get raped if she doesn’t consent, she deserves to be brutalized, because she thinks that’s her only option? that’s pretty narrow minded, not to mention that a lot of people that are sex workers started out as kids that were roped in or kids that were abused and taught that they were only good for that…so how is that their choice? yes, this movie is bringing light to a nasty topic, that everybody knows, but nobody really wants to look at-and it’s shedding that light to save the ones that DON’T want to have that be their living income. so there are prostitutes that enjoy it. that’s fine, but to the people who didn’t know this was going on-they do now, and this is to save the unknown amount of people that get hijacked to become ‘candy’. not everyone is a fallen woman who deserves what she gets, not everyone enjoys that. so there are some discrepancies between the ones who are consensual and the ones that aren’t, but should the ones that aren’t have to suffer for the ones that whore themselves? should the abducted have to be put through losing themselves and their bodies to others, because someone else openly agrees? should a child have to be introduced to sex, because a teen has for a monetary gain?
this is raising awareness so people’s sisters, mothers, and daughters can be protected from sexual predators and depraved jerks. if you want to be a prostitute, move to canada.
@blueworld: Many things to say.
While your comment about the false dichotomy in regards to sex workers is insightful and largely true (we as a society are loath to admit that someone might choose to sell their sexual activities in a healthy and free manner,) your comments about underage prostitution and child sex slavery are disingenuous. Attempting to diminish the value of the movie by claiming that it does nothing but misrepresent the nature of the problem ignores the real purpose of the film.
It is not intended to be a complete and exhaustive examination of the issue; no short subject film could hope to accomplish that. Rather, the purpose of the film is to raise awareness. It is not enough that most of us “already agree that the exploitation of children is horrible,” because the truth is that most of us see that exploitation as something that happens in Asia, or in Africa, or maybe in Europe, but certainly not here in America, where we’re free and civilized and don’t let our children fall through the cracks.
If this film succeeds in raising awareness that child sex trafficking is a problem in the US, then perhaps we as a society can create situations where adults can choose freely to become sex workers, and children will never be forced into the trade, whether that force is a kidnapper or slaver, or a situation of dire need.
This film is an allegory, and functions as such on a simplistic level to accomplish its goal. Criticizing it for lacking depth and nuance is pointless, as that is part and parcel of its very conception. In short: If you want a documentary, watch a documentary. If the dichotomy it creates does not help a swath of the individuals affected by the very issue it seeks to raise awareness of, then perhaps that raised awareness will, and the film will have served its purpose.
@austin: So it’s a little promotion of a friend’s work that is, in and of itself, important. I think that’s small problem.
To all of you who want to bash the movie, I have to say, how dare you! This movie has such a powerful message! You say all these negative things regarding the movie, but let me tell you this, if it is so negative, then why is it getting such a positive response from everyone, including the media? Both of my daughters were in this movie, and my church backs this movie! I back this movie as well 100%, and I back White Stone Motion pictures, as well as Street Grace! Maybe you are just all misinformed, or maybe you just have something negative to say about everything. Either way, you or wrong!
Before people get any further carried away, I’d just like to take a moment to say that, so far as I understand it, absolutely no one has said anything bad about the film. How can we, having not seen it? From what I have seen, I’m sure the film is quite good. My issue has been with Mr. Falksen’s proclamation that it is the best film of the year, and possibly of the decade. While the film may raise awareness, it isn’t raising awareness in the same way that the movie “The Cove” did, for example. This isn’t a hard-hitting documentary that will expose America to the reality of its sex trade.
To be clear, I have absolutely no objection to Mr. Falksen posting a review of the above film. In fact, I think it’s great that the concept of child prostitution and sex trafficking are getting more attention, because they’re absolutely horrible and entirely reprehensible. I only objected to his lack of acknowledgement of his friends’ involvement because it was (to use the word of the day) disingenuous. That may be a small issue to some, but as a former newspaper reporter, it’s very important to me.
Oh, also, I’m totally not on board for the ‘fallen women who deserve it’ thing. I forgot he said that, when I first posted.
I am looking forward to seeing this film when it comes out. It has Doug Jones in it and I have loved him in everything he’s been in.
Now I live down in Atlanta and I know some of the people who worked on this film. They are also some of the same people who worked on “The Walking Dead”. They are an awesome group of people who really care about making a difference. This is a real issue and people need to know about it. I wonder why Austin Sirkin is so down on this film and on the author of this blog post for knowing the people who made it. Anyone can see that by just clicking the link to the guy’s Facebook page. He’s posted on his wall that he knows White Stone and is proud of them. So why do you feel the need to be so down on a blogger reviewing a film by fellow artists and giving it a positive review? Do you not want this film to do well? Do you not want people to be aware of this crime? Do you not want people to get involved to help stop it? Are you someone who wants the candy shop to continue?
@austin
As one of the 4000+ people who were honored to see the Candy Shop at the Fox I am priveledged to say that Mr. Falkson is doing exactly what we were charged with at the presentation. That is to spread the word and raise awareness of a devastatingly overlooked global and local problem.
The only thing that is disingenuous here is your post.
That’s right, as a member of the local steampunk community, I’ve heard you voice your hatred of Mr. Falkson, both in person and online, many times and it appears that you’ve disingenuously made a personal attack in a public forum under the guise of protecting the public intrest by calling for full disclosure. Not only is this matter entirely irrelevant but it could be argued that his own personal stake in speaking highly of this film would be because it’s subject matter is important to him as a human being and that everyone should speak out about the merits of this film, regardless of wether they were directly involved in the creation of the film or merely touched by viewing it.
In short, your former newspaper reporter experience did nothing to make up for your complete lack of journalistic integrity and I call on you to make that right by stating why it is you pointlessly attacked Mr. Falkson.
@Jane
As it turns out, AustinS(irkin) was fired from, I’m not making this up, a candy shop for making inappropriate comments during a holiday project. Maybe the movie really did hit too close to home.
I think to an extent, some of you are correct about the film.
It does nothing but raise awareness to the situation. But what good does that do?
And where i disaggree with those of you, is if you look a little deeper into the project you will see they are partnered completely with the non profit to take those who are now aware, and plug them into making a difference.
http://www.stopthecandyshop.com is all about how to get involved.
So again, if they had stopped at the film, it would do nothing but get us all angry, but thank goodness they actually made the next step to show people how to make a difference.
And as far as heavy handed goes, as a local atlantian who was fortunate enough to get to see the film, Sure it is. It could have stood to be longer.
At the same time though, When has subtlety ever woken people up? Food for thought
I don’t have time to address everyone’s comments now, but
@girleclipse, @austin
When I said, “A sex worker is either a helpless child being abused or a fallen woman who deserves what’s coming to her,” I was suggesting that this is the opinion of some of the anti-trafficking activists, NOT that it is my own belief! I have a number of friends who are middle-class sex workers and I’m concerned that this kind of simplistic activism is hurting them. Stopthecandyshop.com is a religious-based organization that focuses on prayer and activism within churches. I appreciate that they want to help vulnerable teens, and I thoroughly agree with the 1/5th of their mission which is “supporting at-risk youth.” But again, are they really sympathetic to the complex lives that these teens have, if they’re not “pure” before they’re involved in sex work?
I didn’t want to bring the religious aspect in, because I didn’t want to open us to an even worse flame war, but honestly, it’s a big factor in my reaction to this organization. They want to support the “spiritual restoration” of victims of coercive sex work. In my personal opinion, the attitudes about sexuality that many of these churches promote will only further damage teens who are already vulnerable and exploited. These teens are sexual assault victims who are already going to have problems creating a positive sexuality for themselves as adults. What they don’t need is to become “born-again virgins” or have the “sex is bad” message ingrained into them again. Their sexuality has been used to victimize them. They don’t need more messages about how sex is scary, dangerous, dirty, or wrong. They need to learn to separate what is bad (non-consensuality) from what is good (consensual, loving sex). I’m suspicious of whether all these organizations can promote that message.
So when does it come out?
That girl with the red sweater on in a picture, named Hope, Kyla Deaver plays her. Kyla is a very good friend of mine from cheerleading.