Movie Review: Not Today

Not Today follows a 20 year old Caden from a wealthy family as he and his friends live their life partying and with no responsibilities.  While drinking and playing cards they decide the winner of the game will choose a place for them to travel.  They throw a dart at a map to see where it will be and the dart lands on Hyderabad, India.   Once there, they continue their partying and are oblivious to the needs around them.

What I liked about the movie:
This movie really captures the essence of how wealthy and fortunate we are in the US.  We are so blessed compared to so many other places in the world.  Did you know that 2.1 billion people, live on less than $2 a day? Of these people, 880 million live on less than $1 a day. The enormous gap between what we have and what they do not have is done very well.  I found myself cringing at Caden's callous response to the Dad as he asks for food to feed his daughter that hasn't eaten in 3 days.  Caden is so blessed that he can fly to India on a whim, but yet his heart was so hard he could not offer even a little of what he had to someone in need.

Not Today also shows the harsh reality that some parents sell their own children.  Some, like the Dad in the movie, do so unknowingly.  They are living in extreme poverty and someone will offer their child the promise of a better life.  The promise of a job opportunity working for a wealthy couple where she will be fed, taken care of and given an education.  They feel they are doing what is best for their child, but the reality is that she is being sold into slavery.  In some countries, parents will knowingly sell their children into slavery.  The children go because they feel that they can help their families. They feel in debt to their families, and want to help improve their lives.

The movie also shows the plight of the Dalits in India who are discriminated against because of where in India they were born.  When Karin, who is a Dalit, helps Caden find his way back to his hotel the hotel will not allowed Karin inside because he is considered one of the untouchables.  This was heartbreaking for me.  We are all God's children and he values each and everyone of us. NOT TODAY executive producer Pastor Matthew Cork says:

"Dalits are not considered human. They get no education. They are used and abused and have no recourse or avenues toward justice. There is no protection from law enforcement; no access to the courts; no political voice, no hope of upward mobility.

"Our goal for the entire movement is no small thing: to eliminate the caste system, to free the Dalits. The world needs to understand that slavery still exists. That even today, young children are bought and sold like cattle. That little girls are forced into the dark, illicit sex trade. That young boys and girls are coerced to beg in the streets, and bring their proceeds back to line the pockets of thugs who abuse them at night."

What I did not like about the movie:
The rescuing of the little girl did not seem realistic to me.  While I did feel it captured how quickly they are sold and then moved underground I found it hard to believe that someone could just go in showing a picture of the girl, offer some money and be able to rescue her.  But this in no way detracts from the message of the movie and the awareness it is bringing to the issue of human trafficking.

My favorite quote from the movie is when Caden is reading a letter his mom had tucked in his bible before he left for his trip.  She told him she was praying for him to be able to see everything he has, to see what others lack and to bridge that gap with his heart.  I loved seeing the transformation of Caden's heart from a self absorbed young man who doubts his faith to a young man down on his knees begging for God to help rescue that little girl.
 
NOT TODAY is a powerful reminder that change is possible if we're willing to open our eyes ... today.