34. GIRL MODEL

the olympics have significantly interfered with my documentary a day.  of course, i'm learning things from the olympics, too, just not in the style intended for this blog.  that said, it's friday night, so i don't have time limits.  i chose this film because it's on the short side.  it was eye-opening.  following scout ashley, a former model herself, we see a cold call for models in siberia.  apparently there are agencies there that scout girls when they are quite young, convincing the parents that modelling builds character....and, the check book.  13yo nadia is scouted as a model for the japanese market, which likes young innocent girls.  her family needs money and feel, from the contract details as they understand them, nadia will earn at least $8000.  nadia flies off on a plane, unattended, to japan.  there, a sad, homesick nadia tries to make sense of a culture and language she doesn't understand; goes on cold calls; gets a job for which she doesn't get paid; eventually returns home $2000 in debt.  we also follow scout ashley, as she hints at the many improprieties of this industry; makes innuendo to the pedophilic and pornographic culture of the modelling industry in japan; and, even though she had an awful experience as a model, stating many times how much she hated it, we see her continue to scout, knowing what the future holds for the girls she recruits.  it's sad and disturbing.  fresh faced nadia is sad through the majority of the film.  we ache for her.  the only consolation is we know a film crew is with her; we can't help but wonder the fate of girls not so fortunate.  the modelling industry is incredibly lucrative for many, but girls grow up very quickly.  i would say...much too quickly.  siberian parents--keep your daughters home with you!