An Unflinching Portrayal of Child Immigrant Exploitation

An African teen immigrant and her adopted little brother are ruthlessly exploited in a Belgian city. Tori and Lokita, winner of the Cannes Film Festival Special 75th Anniversary Award, shows the unvarnished dangers and sexual predation faced by minors seeking legal status. Those on the fringe of society are susceptible to criminals who feed on desperation. They toil in the shadows with no recourse for justice. French auteurs Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne take a searing approach to ugly truths.

Sixteen-year-old Lokita (Mbundu Joely) sits nervously through an immigration interview. She fumbles and hesitates answering questions about her brother’s orphanage. Lokita suffers from panic attacks. The pressure builds to a breaking point. She hyperventilates and can’t continue.

Eleven-year-old Tori (Pablo Schils) comforts her in their room at the refugee center. They sing together briefly but have work to do. Their vocals continue to liven up the crowd at a nearby restaurant during karaoke. The chef, Betim (Alban Ukaj), collects their phones and hands them drugs for delivery. They roam the night making stops at homes, apartments, and nightclubs. Returning to the restaurant for a minor pittance and old bread for dinner. Tori’s hungry but he has to wait. Betim isn’t through with Lokita.

Further Travails

Janus Films

The next day sheds light on further travails and drama. Lokita is grabbed on the street as she tries to wire money home. Firmin (Marc Zinga) wonders where she’s been hiding. His brutal accomplice searches every part of her body. She and Tori owe him smuggling fees. Lokita needs to do better, or they’ll come after Tori.

The interview must be rescheduled. Tori tries to quiz her, but she again succumbs to panic. Lokita needs another way to get her papers. She dreams of a job as a home aid. Betim senses an opportunity. He has something else that she can do.

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Lokita has nowhere to turn. Her family back home demands financial support. She has to repay the smuggler or face a violent reprisal. Betim takes advantage of her situation but keeps his word. There’s money to be made if she can stomach his perverse assaults. Tori’s fully aware of their predicament. He wants to stop attending school. Sell drugs full time and they can be free. Lokita refuses. Her beloved brother is the only light in darkness. Everything Lokita does is for him. There’s only so much weight she can carry before breaking.

The Dardenne brothers (Rosetta, Rust and Bone) continue to astound with masterful storytelling. Tori and Lokita aren’t frail characters blowing in the wind. They’ve survived together on a dangerous journey to the unknown. The pair relies on their wits, sweat, and nerves. His songs, drawings, and loving embrace provides needed strength in her lowest moments. Their genuine affection gives the film sublime realism. They embody the sacrifices made for a chance at better lives.

Inhumanity in Tori and Lokita

Tori and Lokita elicits the gamut of emotional responses. Tender moments give way to substantial fury. I seethed with anger at Betim’s abhorrent behavior. Trafficked women and children are subject to such vile cruelty. Your heart will ache at the inhumanity.

Tori and Lokita has French dialogue with English subtitles. It is currently in limited theatrical release from Sideshow and Janus Films.

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