Preview
Inspired by true events, rather than based on a true story, The Whistleblower takes place in Bosnia, a country we’ve seen as corrupt in films like No Man’s Land. Here we see how deep-seated this corruption is, and how many high-ranking figures are involved.
Rachel Weisz gives an outstanding performance as Kathy, a Nebraskan cop who takes a six month contract with a private security company after being denied a transfer that would take her closer to the daughter she’s recently lost in a custody dispute. When she is sent to Bosnia to help the UN protect the civilian population, Kathy finds herself in a place that is essentially still a combat zone – mines explode in the background at regular intervals.
When she is called in to investigate a young girl who has been brutally beaten, she discovers a white-slavery ring which rents these teenagers out to men who want to party. When she finds out that many of these men are members of the organization she is working for, she is forced to make some tough decisions.
Often gut-wrenching, this film shines a spotlight on a huge problem that is largely ignored. Weisz gives a fierce performance as the crusading woman, perhaps her finest since her similar role in The Constant Gardner. The film does not shy away from the unpleasant nature of its subject – there is one torture scene that is almost too painful to watch – but is all the more powerful for it.