Lucy: A Social Commentary on Human Trafficking

The popular 2014 sci-fi movie is about more than you think

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Most people see the 2014 movie Lucy as a visually captivating action film, while some intellectuals believe it is an exploration of human potential, or a comment on science’s involvement in improving humans through technological and scientific interventions. But Lucy is much more than that. It’s a strong condemnation on human trafficking and exploitation. It reminds us that this plague of human cruelty remains hidden in plain sight.

The film’s scenes display a stark difference from our very real complacency about the gruesome black marketing of humans. They depict what defiance of that system would look like — albeit extremely — and give us insight into what it could be like if enslaved people were able to fight back against their purchasers, aggressors, and kidnappers.

Lucy’s brutal coercion into drug trafficking mirrors the experiences of countless victims worldwide. She is stripped of her autonomy; for example, her body is transformed into a carrier for illegal and dangerous substances. This highlights the dehumanizing nature of trafficking and challenges audiences to recognize its pervasiveness and the suffering it inflicts.

Lucy is a strong condemnation of human…