K11 – Confessions of a Sex Tourist
Puja Khoschsorur:
K11 – Confessions of a Sex Tourist (Austria, 2009)
29 min. - English - English subtitles
K-18
K11 - Confessions of a Sex Tourist is the maddest film you will see this year. Despite its length (less than 30 min), poor shooting technique and technical incompetence this documentary is one of the strongest statements on international sex tourism ever made. It disgusts, angers and, above all, makes one stop. In all its simplicity this film makes one think about the boundaries and essence of humanity. How can we live in a world where this film is reality?
Puja Khoschsorur's documentary reveals the reality of sex tourism in all its
repulsiveness. Unaware of the hidden camera a 44-year old business-man openly talks about his tricks to lure young girls into his hotel, while he ridicules new international laws that protect young sex workers. The documentary is bare, it does not dramatize the topic. There is no need for statistics or all-knowing narrators, the business-man's chitchat is enough to reveal the rotten side of tourism in far-off countries.
The film title K 11 refers to the former red light district Svay Pak, Cambodia. Svay Pak attained worldwide infamy as a travel destination preferred by foreign men with a fondness for young girls. Svay Pak was officially shut down in 2005, after massive international pressure. However, selling young women and girls did not stop there, the transactions were simply relocated to the backyards.
The documentary is a rare insight into the dark side of far-off travels and the thoughts of a hidden mass of western men. The power of the film is in the openness of the protagonist. Without any fear of getting caught he reveals his perverted dreams and unveils the hidden reality of sex tourism that is a lot closer than anyone dares to say.
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PUJA KHOSCHSORUR
The director Puja Khoschsorur lived in Cambodia working with a local NGO to monitor, investigate and report on all forms of violence against women.
