When she arrives in war-ravaged Bosnia, she learns that her group, Democra Security, aids the local police force in investigating a variety of crimes, the least of which, in their opinion, is domestic violence against women. As a sworn officer of the law, she can't stand by and watch women being repeatedly abused, so she steps in and with the help of a fellow Peacekeeper, successfully prosecutes the abusive husband, a first in Bosnia. This catches the eye of Madeline Rees (Vanessa Redgrave), who asks her to stay on for a longer stint and head up the Gender Affairs Department, which she agrees to do.
In the course of her work, she comes across a young woman named Raya (Anna Anissimova) who has been brutally physically and sexually abused and she discovers that a deadly human trafficking ring thrives since the close of the Bosnian War. As she digs deeper, she discovers that the ring not only caters to her fellow Peacekeepers and other internationals brought over to lend aid to the war-torn country, but that they actually help run the brutal ring and are working with local police officers to facilitate the kidnapping of these young women.
Sickened by the acts of her co-workers, she convinces Raya to testify against her local captor in the hopes of breaking up the ring, but Bolkovac is unable to protect Raya and she once again falls into the hands of her tormentors, with vicious results. Bolkovac turns to Laura Leviani (Monica Bellucci), whose organization provides assistance to these girls, but red tape prevents them from being much help.
Madeline recruits Peter (David Strathairn) from Internal Affairs to assist in the widespread investigation, but they find doors slammed in their faces every way they turn. In a strange country with no support from those who brought her there, can Kathy get the story out before those in control silence her permanently?
The Whistleblower is a gripping drama about the dark side of human nature and not for the weak of stomach or heart as they pull no punches in what happens to these poor girls. The dark contrasts and inky settings really pop on Blu-ray. The film is light on special features, containing only one short featurette, however, it is an interesting one on the woman who inspired the film, the real Kathy Bolkovac.
While The Whistleblower is not an uplifting film, it is one that shows that a single person can make a difference in the lives of many people. The acting is spectacular and the plot riveting, all the more so since it is based on true events. If you are interested in the subject matter, The Whistleblower is well worth your time.
