VERY YOUNG GIRLS ON SHOWTIME SHOWCASE: MONDAY, 2/23/9 @ 10:00PM.

Very Young Girls examines the exploitation of underage girls who are forced, bullied and coerced into prostitution. Most girls start between the ages of twelve and fourteen and are usually taken in by pimps who present themselves as both boyfriends and father figures, only to turn the girls out on the street a week or two after meeting them. David Schisgall's documentary is clearly swimming in dark waters, and you'd be forgiven for not rushing to watch a movie about such depressing subject matter. But skipping this film for CSI reruns would be a big mistake.

Not only do you hear the stories of exploitation directly from the girls themselves, but you also see them getting help from an incredible organization called GEMS (Girls Educational & Mentoring Services). GEMS, based right here in New York, was founded by former prostitute Rachel Lloyd as a kind of halfway house where girls trying to get out of prostitution can feel safe and and less alone. We see group therapy sessions where the extent of a pimp's brainwashing is revealed; for some girls, the attention they had received from the pimps was the closest thing to love they had yet to feel, so the temptation of going back to him is always a danger. We don't usually recommend staying home and watching television, but for this compelling look at a worthy organization, we'll make an exception.

Very Young Girls
Directed by David Schisgall
On Showtime Showcase, 02/23/09 @ 10:00 PM
Available through Showtime on Demand through 3/3/09