''Doing Money'' is a British television

crime drama Crime films, in the broadest sense, is a film genre inspired by and analogous to the crime fiction literary genre. Films of this genre generally involve various aspects of crime and its detection. Stylistically, the genre may overlap and combin ...

, written by Gwyneth Hughes and directed by Lynsey Miller, that first broadcast on BBC Two on 5 November 2018. Focusing on the subject of modern slavery in the sex trade, the film, starring Anca Dumitra and

Allen Leech Allen Leech (born 18 May 1981) is an Irish actor best known for his role as Tom Branson on the historical drama series ''Downton Abbey'' and as Paul Prenter in the 2018 biopic ''Bohemian Rhapsody''. He made his professional acting debut with a ...

, is based upon the novel ''Slave'' by Jason Johnson, published on 3 May 2018. The film documents the story of 'Ana', a

Romania Romania ( ; ro, România ) is a country located at the crossroads of Central, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe. It borders Bulgaria to the south, Ukraine to the north, Hungary to the west, Serbia to the southwest, Moldova to the east, and ...

n student training to be a nurse who is kidnapped in broad daylight from the streets of

London London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...

and ordered to work as a prostitute in a number of brothels in

Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...

and

Northern Ireland Northern Ireland ( ga, Tuaisceart Éireann ; sco, label= Ulster-Scots, Norlin Airlann) is a part of the United Kingdom, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, that is variously described as a country, province or region. Nort ...

. Casting for the film was announced in August 2018. The film was broadcast as part of the BBC's ''Why Slavery?'' season, to coincide with International Anti Slavery Day.

Casting

Anca Dumitra said of her role as Ana; “Ana is a truly remarkable person, someone who has survived endless abuse with courage and determination, a real-life hero. I have been deeply moved by her story and it’s an honour to play her in ''Doing Money''. This is a story that needs to be seen.” Allen Leech added; “I’m delighted to be part of telling this moving and important true story. ''Doing Money'', Ana’s experience, shines a light on the shocking truth of human trafficking and slavery in Britain. DI Dougie Grant was one of the key officers at the centre of the original investigation. It’s a real privilege to play him.”

Reception

Alison Graham of the '' Radio Times'' wrote; "After watching Gwyneth Hughes’s fact-based drama ''Doing Money'', I went home stifled by a cloud of misery that couldn’t be dispersed, even by the repeats of ancient '' Big Bang Theories'' I watched long into the evening just to try to flush the horror from my system. I found ''Doing Money'' so overwhelming – the true story of Ana, a young Romanian woman working as a cleaner in Britain who was abducted by a trafficking gang from a street in Wood Green London and forced into sex slavery. I was harrowed as she was repeatedly brutalised into submission by a series of men who treated her savagely." Viewers described the film as "horrific", "disturbing", "harrowing" and "heartbreaking."

Cast

References

External links

* {{IMDb title, tt8359636 2010s British crime television series 2010s British drama television series BBC high definition shows BBC television dramas British crime drama television series English-language television shows Television shows set in London Television shows set in Ireland