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Call & Response

Play trailer Poster for Call & Response PG-13 2008 1h 24m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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83% Tomatometer 6 Reviews 83% Popcornmeter 250+ Ratings
This documentary urges viewers to help end the global slave trade, portraying a contemporary epidemic in which countless underprivileged and anonymous people -- often young women and girls -- are sold into various forms of bondage in all corners of the world. The film makes its points through commentary from experts like Princeton University professor Cornel West and former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, and with performances by socially conscious musicians such as Talib Kweli.

Critics Reviews

View All (6) Critics Reviews
Jeff Shannon Seattle Times How much impact Call + Response will have is anyone's guess. But when you see a 4-year-old sex slave, ignoring this crisis is no longer an option. Rated: 2.5/4 Oct 10, 2008 Full Review Robert Abele Chicago Tribune All in all, Call + Response makes alarmingly clear how ugly, pervasive and out-in-the-open the trade in humans for sex or labor often is, from the expected places -- Eastern Europe, Southeast Asia -- to our own backyard. Rated: 3/5 Oct 10, 2008 Full Review Neely Tucker Washington Post It's a documentary with its heart and its outrage in the right place. Oct 9, 2008 Full Review Andrew L. Urban Urban Cinefile Laced with the potent music of a dozen bands and solo artists, Call Response is an urgent call to arms in the war against modern slavery. Oct 17, 2009 Full Review Matthew Nestel Boxoffice Magazine The piece is well-executed, and compiles some strong takes from folks that are calling out modern-day slavery and are determined to topple its infrastructure. Rated: 3/5 Nov 10, 2008 Full Review Brian Miller L.A. Weekly Commendable if not compelling. Oct 9, 2008 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (24) audience reviews
Audience Member Anything that advocates anti-slavery gets a 5 from me. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/17/23 Full Review Audience Member This documentary was amazing, but I prefered the music from Cold War Kids, they just so happen to be one of my favorite bands! but the message that this documentary expresses is that even during the 21st century, slavery is still alive and with over 27 million people in bondage around the world, this collection of musicians--including Cold War Kids, Moby, Natasha Bedingfield, Matisyahu, and Talib Kweli,gather together to make a stand for what is right. Even actress Ashley Judd talks about how bad slavery is, but I will admit, Cold War Kids' performance was the best! Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/18/23 Full Review Audience Member Great movie and great music.....but the soundtrack on itunes and support international justice mission!! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/22/23 Full Review Audience Member this is a topic that we all can't ignore. As a movie/documentary i think it can be better but i still give my plause to Justin Dillon. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/11/23 Full Review Audience Member Although it is brilliant that there is finally a documentary of this nature being released into mainstream cinema, it was not as well developed as I had hoped. The music took a vast majority of the screen time and caused the message of the film to be lost in it. Also, by featuring quite a few unknown musicians performing songs directly to the camera and showing very few images of the story they were telling, I feel it lost its connection with the audience, causing them to become restless and even bored to some extent. This film had the potential to stir strong and confronting emotions in its audience and educate the population on a very series issue that is happening right under their noses. Instead, I left the auditorium feeling like a had just come out of a semi-political musical documentary. All in all I found this film to be less that inspiring. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/29/23 Full Review Audience Member This film is an eye opening call to action on the current state of slavery in the world. Whether it be in the far corners of the 3rd world, or just down the street, slavery is a multi-national, thriving industry praying on the weak, the poor and the terribly young. Call+Response is one of those films that you wish never had to be made, but one that is done with the compassion and insightful wisdom of people fighting the good fight, who know that change can come if we all are just willing to look at what is going on around us. At it’s heart, it shows that people can and will make a difference, and that good and kindness toward one another is not lost. See this film, have your friends see this film, and then start the conversation. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/13/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Call & Response

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Movie Info

Synopsis This documentary urges viewers to help end the global slave trade, portraying a contemporary epidemic in which countless underprivileged and anonymous people -- often young women and girls -- are sold into various forms of bondage in all corners of the world. The film makes its points through commentary from experts like Princeton University professor Cornel West and former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, and with performances by socially conscious musicians such as Talib Kweli.
Director
Justin Dillon
Rating
PG-13 (Mature Thematic Material|Crimes Against Humanity|Drug References|Disturbing Content|Sexual Enslavement)
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Runtime
1h 24m