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Post by ragincajun on Jan 8, 2009 15:16:58 GMT -5
This episode was eye opening. Lt. Van Buren's Line, "This Plantation is close." Heart wrenching, how could any mother do this? Then that girl talking that boy into killing those people, it was fear that made him do it, fear of being on the streets alone, in a country that he knows no one, all he wanted to do was go back home to his mama, I know he pulled the trigger, but...I don't know. I am glad she went to jail too, but she deserved worse. I would have loved for them to finish with a shot of her in jail. I know they can't all have happy endings, but I think the message needed to be spread but I wanted the happy ending.  Past CI guest star, Jessica Hecht, played the Bad Mom, and played in Undaunted Mettle on LOCI. |
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Post by annabelleleigh on Jan 9, 2009 14:12:58 GMT -5
A stunning episode. How unfortunate that NBC did little to publicize it. Let's hope it's re-aired soon. In the meantime you can find a video clip at www.nbc.com/Law_and_Order/video/clips/chattel/918841/The following was published on a blogsite named "Season of Light" and came to it via e-mail from an organization called Free The Slaves. Boldface mine. AL ------------------------- "Law & Order tells a compelling story of child slavery in New York on Wednesday night on NBC at 10 PM/9 central.
Two detectives on the show are investigating a double murder when they uncover and a child slave trade ring between Haiti and New York.
“This is one of those rare episodes that touched everyone who worked on it,” says Executive Producer Rene Balcer about what he calls probably the most powerful episode of the season. Rene told Free the Slaves, “Even our crusty thick-skinned editors were moved to tears by the ending. It also opened a lot of eyes to the present-day, modern-world reality of slavery and indentured servitude. I would urge everyone who, as a result of this e-blast, watches the episode to call NBC thanking them for allowing the writers and producers of Law & Order to shine a spotlight on this issue.” [NBC Viewer Services at 212-664-5740]
Getting slavery into the mainstream is a core goal of FTS. We’re thrilled that one of the most popular TV shows in history is highlighting slavery. The producers of the show were inspired to write the episode, “Chattel”, after reading ‘A Crime So Monstrous’ by Ben Skinner. Ben traveled around the world researching slavery and visiting FTS’ partners including in Haiti.
The show illustrates some of the psychological complexity of working with the victims of slavery who have spent years living with deprivation and fear. Keep in mind, the episode is not a documentary so when you hear Sam Waterson say there are no anti-trafficking statutes in New York – thankfully that is no longer true. In fact, New York recently passed an anti-trafficking law and is one of 40 states that have criminal anti-trafficking statutes on the books. But only half of those states have victim protection laws to help the survivors of slavery.
You can find out more about child domestic slavery in Haiti [the restavek system] and what FTS is doing with partners to combat it here: www.freetheslaves.net/LimyeLavi |
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Post by DonnaJo on Jan 9, 2009 17:18:38 GMT -5
Thank you for that thought-provoking article, Annabelle.  I was just able to see this episode. Yes, the ending brought me to tears. That poor boy saying as he is walked out of the holding cell with other prisoners..."Now I'll never be free." I can't believe how the couple who arranged the 16 "adoptions" justified what they were doing, saying that any life here was better than a life in Haiti. I'm sure that's true, but they did charge $30,00 per adoption - that's slavery, people. Loved McCoy righteously angry expression when peering at the guilty couple in the holding cell. We haven't been seeing this outraged side of Jack lately, so it was refreshing to say the least.  |
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