Very Young Girls (2007)

73% of critics liked it
(11 reviews)
68% of users liked it
(532 ratings)

Director David Schisgall addresses the sensitive topic of underage prostitution in New York City with this sobering documentary detailing the stories of several unsuspecting girls who fell prey to the city's vicious and manipulative pimps. As hopeless as the girls' situations may seem, however,… More Director David Schisgall addresses the sensitive topic of underage prostitution in New York City with this sobering documentary detailing the stories of several unsuspecting girls who fell prey to the city's vicious and manipulative pimps. As hopeless as the girls' situations may seem, however, there is a light at the end of the tunnel in the form of former prostitute Rachel Lloyd. The founder of Girls Education and Mentoring Services (GEMS), Lloyd is committed to ensuring that the youth of today avoid making the same mistakes that she did when she was lured into the sordid world of prostitution. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 23 min.
Directed By: David Schisgall, Nina Alvarez
Genres: Documentary, Special Interest

In Theaters: Sep 11, 2007 Wide
On DVD: Jul 7, 2009

Critic Reviews

Jeannette Catsoulis, New York Times
Adopting a confessional, direct-to-camera interview style for most of its running time, this unvarnished vérité documentary about teenage prostitutes in New York City resolutely resists the urge to dramatize. The heartbreaking stories are drama enough.
Michelle Orange, Village Voice
[A] heartbreaking look at the trafficking of underage girls in New York City.
Joe Leydon, Variety
Simply doesn't dig deep enough to generate fresh outrage.
Jennifer Merin, About.com
The film brings the painful plight of teenage prostitutes to light, refrains from inflicting any degree of blame or shame on them and points to ways they can reclaim their lives.
Prairie Miller, Critical Women
Sex, Class and Ho Daddies: The criminalization of sexually abused and exploited ghetto girls in scathing documentary.
Kam Williams, AALBC.com
Should we really be surprised about this explosion in human trafficking in the ghetto when it has been celebrated for over a decade in every other gangsta' video?
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
An edifying documentary about prostitutes who want to leave "the life" behind.
Donald J. Levit, ReelTalk Movie Reviews
Even with too many annoying bleeped names and obscenities, in their own ways and words, these girls honestly tell their backstories that are individual yet of a piece.
Maitland McDonagh, Time Out New York
This fly-on-the-wall doc about underage prostitution and the efforts of NYC outreach worker Rachel Lloyd to help girls leave the life is flawed but profoundly disturbing.
Ed Gonzalez, Slant Magazine
Delivers less insight into the psychology of why young girls turn to prostitution than HBO's Hookers.
Jon Popick, Planet Sick-Boy
More of a direct-to-Lifetime Network quality.

Read all 11 critic reviews

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Cast

Rachel Lloyd

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