Paramount Pictures
12 October 2019 • WAR cry • FILM 3
Double elb trouble elb Assassin faces up to a younger clone of himself, writes Linda McTurk
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XPERIENCED assassin Henry Brogan (Will Smith) knows that he can be his own worst enemy. And now he is coming face to face with a younger, faster clone of himself who’s out to kill him in Gemini Man, which was released in cinemas on Thursday (10 October). Henry’s clone is nearly 30 years younger than him with more stamina and greater physical ability. Junior is also a very skilled assassin. Cloned from Henry’s DNA and trained from a young age by paramilitary expert Clay Verris (Clive Owen), Junior knows exactly how to hunt down his targets. Just before Henry is due to retire, he discovers that the government has a secret and as a result Clay convinces the authorities that Henry needs to be killed. Then he sends Junior after him. Fear shakes Henry as he faces his clone. Seeing Junior is like ‘seeing a ghost – like every trigger I’ve ever pulled’ he says. But despite their shared DNA, Junior isn’t an exact replica of Henry. He doesn’t share Henry’s past – something Clay sees as an advantage. He says to his protégé: ‘The whole point of this is to give you all of Henry’s gifts without his pain.’ However, Henry knows the sinister truth about Clay and wants to warn
Junior and protect him. But as Clay sticks close to Junior’s ear, who will Junior listen to – his older self or the man who brought him into Clay (left) has his own agenda for Junior the world and from whom he seeks fatherly affirmation? Because of his unusual origins, Christians throughout the centuries Junior struggles to make sense of his have taken comfort in the truth that identity and purpose. He wants Clay God knows everything about us and still loves us. One Bible writer, Paul, Our deepest desire speaks about this love of God and his son, saying: ‘God has shown us how is to be fully known much he loves us — it was while we and fully loved were still sinners that Christ died for us!’ (Romans 5:8 Good News Bible). to be a dedicated father to him, to Even though he knew all that people love him and show him who he is do wrong, God sent his son Jesus meant to be. to Earth, to die on the cross and be It is not only Junior who struggles to raised to life for our sake. Because know who he is or where he belongs of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, even in the world. In real life, many of our worst mistakes do not exclude us yearn to be liked by people we us from God’s love. God knows respect and admire. We crave their everything about us and still accepts care and affection and want to know us as his dearly loved children. that we matter to them. Our deepest When we choose to trust God, he desire is to be fully known and fully will show us the depths of his love. He loved. But when we make mistakes will guide us and offer us assurance. and disappoint people close to us, His unconditional love means that we can sometimes find it difficult to whatever our age, and whoever we believe that we are worth knowing or are, we can all have hope for the loving at all. future.
Slavery act 12 October 2019 • WAR cry • FEATURE 5
Actress RUXANDRA POROJNICU talks to Sarah Olowofoyeku about how playing a victim of trafficking on Coronation Street taught her about the problem of modern slavery HE residents of a street in Weatherfield T were in for a shock earlier this year when an incident of modern slavery was uncovered.
Coronation Street regular Seb (Harry Visinoni) fell for the new employee at the nail bar, and soon learnt about the horrible conditions in which she was living. The young handyman started to get suspicious after Alina (Ruxandra Porojnicu), who had recently arrived from Romania, began to behave strangely towards him. She would rush home at a certain time when they were together or would send Seb away from the nail bar. Seb found out that Alina was not living in a flat as she had told him, but in the nail bar’s dingy backroom. When he confronted her about his discovery, she became scared and secretive. But Seb didn’t back down. Finally, the truth came out. Alina told Seb that she was indebted to her employer, and needed to remain living in the harsh conditions until the debt was paid off. When Seb told her that she did not need to live like this, she said she had been warned that if she tried to escape, something bad would happen to her family. ‘This is trafficking!’ Seb exclaimed. Eventually Alina’s eyes were opened to her situation, but she was still held by fear and saw no way out. So Seb
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‘Coronation Street’ viewers watched Seb (Harry Visinoni) grow suspicious of Alina’s situation
6 FEATURE • WAR cry • 12 October 2019
From page 5 she portrayed on Coronation Street. I met with Ruxandra to find out about her experience of playing Alina, and how it affected her. The first thing that struck her, she explains, was realising that she and Alina share more than just a native country. ‘To prepare for playing the role, I went back
I learnt that human trafficking can happen under our noses to my own experience as an immigrant,’ she says. ‘Although I cannot compare my living conditions with Alina’s, I know how it is to have the hope that the future is in your hands. ‘When I came to the UK to find work, I found myself in her position. You don’t think too much, you just want to have a job straightaway. You think, “Oh, I can do
ITV
went to the police, who came up with a strategy to set Alina free. But this meant that Seb had to say goodbye to Alina who, after being rescued, decided to return to Romania. Alina regained her independence, but this is not always the case for many men and women who have been trafficked. Maybe their captivity has not yet been discovered, or perhaps it has, but they still feel unable to leave because of the fear of what might happen to their family. Victims of human trafficking can work in nail bars, car washes or homes, and on the surface it may not seem as though they are in danger. But the writers of Coronation Street highlighted the issue, and through Alina and Seb’s story revealed what can be going on beneath the surface. And the actress who plays Alina is glad to have played a part in the soap’s effort to raise awareness of modern slavery. Ruxandra Porojnicu is from Romania, the same place as the fictional young woman
Alina and Seb’s story highlighted the issue of modern slavery
that job and I don’t need a contract.” You want to trust people.’ Ruxandra’s personal experience gave her a little insight into what Alina would be going through, but the actress says that it wasn’t until meeting a victim of human trafficking that she really began to get a picture of the problem. Coronation Street’s writers consulted The Salvation Army when it came to writing Alina’s storyline. People from the organisation met with Ruxandra and introduced her to someone who had been through their support system. ‘The girl I met was in her twenties, she was very beautiful and I could tell by the look in her eyes that she’d been through hard times,’ says Ruxandra. ‘I was struck by her willingness to share her experience. ‘I learnt that human trafficking can happen under our noses, to people
12 October 2019 • WAR cry • FEATURE 7
we know, without us having a clue what they are going through. At the start of the meeting I felt very emotional hearing the stories. I had only been thinking of sex trafficking before, I didn’t know it had so many sides – there’s child trafficking, debt trafficking, labour trafficking.’ The Salvation Army provides specialist support for all adult victims of modern slavery in England and Wales through a government contract awarded in 2011. In that time, it has supported more than 8,000 people. And Ruxandra admires the work being done. ‘The Salvation Army does so much to get people on the right path,’ she says. ‘I liked the fact that they don’t just send people on their way. They ask whether the people involved would like to stay here, whether they’d like to work or study. And then they offer their help. That was amazing to hear.’ As well as supporting victims, the organisation is directing its efforts to raising awareness of the issue. For Anti-Slavery Day (18 October), it is running a campaign, #WeAreNotForSale, which urges people to buy, wear and share photos of temporary tattoos. The barcode design shows how modern slavery turns people into commodities who are bought and sold. All the money made from sales of the tattoo will go towards the Victim Care Fund, which helps adult victims of modern slavery to take the first steps to living independently. A recent poll highlighted that three quarters of people were not confident that they could spot the signs that someone was being forced to work as a slave in the UK today. The poll also found that a fifth of people were unsure or did not think that individuals are being forced to work as slaves in the UK. Kathy Betteridge, director of The Salvation Army’s antitrafficking and modern slavery work, said: ‘It is vital that people learn to spot the signs of slavery around them, and report what they see so victims can access our network of specialist safe houses and outreach work.’
Ruxandra has joined The Salvation Army’s campaign and believes it is important that the general public are aware, and that they take action on the issue. She is planning to run the London Marathon next year to raise funds and awareness, and she remains optimistic. She says: ‘When I was reading the feedback from Coronation Street, viewers said they were amazed that it could be happening next to them and they wouldn’t know. ‘But people said at least now they knew how to spot a victim and they were glad that there was a number to call. Many people want to help, so it brought me hope.’
The response to her role and the work of anti-human trafficking and modern slavery charities have encouraged her. ‘It was amazing to know that, yes, there’s so much bad in the world, but at the same time, there’s so much good. What gave me hope was hearing about so many organisations and people who care and fight for people’s rights to be free.’ l The transfers are available to buy, from Salvation Army churches and centres, charity shops and online at sps-shop.com
12 INNER LIFE • War Cry • 12 October 2019
Prayerlink YOUR prayers are requested for Andrew, who is caring for his family through a difficult time. The War Cry invites readers to send in requests for prayer, including the first names of individuals and details of their circumstances. Send your requests to Prayerlink, War Cry, 101 Newington Causeway, London SE1 6BN. Mark your envelope ‘Confidential’.
Becoming a Christian There is no set formula to becoming a Christian, but many people have found saying this prayer to be a helpful first step to a relationship with God Lord Jesus Christ, I am truly sorry for the things I have done wrong in my life. Please forgive me. I now turn from everything that I know is wrong. Thank you that you died on the cross for me so that I could be forgiven and set free. Thank you that you offer me forgiveness and the gift of your Holy Spirit. Please come into my life by your Holy Spirit to be with me for ever. Thank you, Lord Jesus. Amen Extract from Why Jesus? by Nicky Gumbel published by Alpha International, 2011. Used by kind permission of Alpha International
Nigel Bovey gives chapter and verse on each book in the Scriptures
Malachi HE last book of the Old Testament, T Malachi, was written after the rebuilding of the Temple in 516BC. Malachi’s
will be stubble’. For those who revere God’s name, ‘the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays’ (4:1 and 2). In the light of this, God implores his people to keep the faith (4:4).
prophecy is a mixture of good and bad news. He starts with the good. Through the prophet, God reminds the people of Israel of God reminds the his love for them. Then follows the bad news. When it people of Israel of comes to sacrifices, God requires animals that are without defect. But the people are his love for them offering blind, crippled or diseased animals. God considers this cheating and an insult There is more good news. Before the day (1:6–14). of God’s reckoning comes, he will send a The priests have fallen short of God’s messenger – ‘the prophet Elijah’ (4:5) – to standards. Not only are they allowing sub- prepare the way. The Lord ‘will come to standard sacrifices, but their teaching of the his Temple; the messenger of the covenant, Law is also second-rate (2:1–9). whom you desire, will come’ (3:1). People are falling back into the old sins. This reference to the Messiah is the last Despite copious warnings from prophets word from God recorded in the Bible until such as Isaiah, Jeremiah and Hosea, God John the Baptist, the forerunner for Jesus, punished Israel by sending it into exile appears in the wilderness, crying: ‘Prepare because the people had married foreigners the way for the Lord’ (Matthew 3:3). and worshipped their gods. Years later, it is still happening and God is displeased (2:10–16). In their financial giving, people are shortchanging God and are questioning whether their faith is worth the effort (3:6–15). Even though the place of worship – the Temple – has been rebuilt, it is the ger, who purity of worship that still needs work‘I will send my messen ing on. Help, though, is at hand. fore me’ will prepare the way be A day is coming when ‘all national Version) (Malachi 3:1 New Inter the arrogant and every evildoer
Key verse
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