How can this happen in the European Paradise?
-
Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — Lilya 4-Ever
electrictroy — 15 years ago(April 25, 2010 07:03 PM)
We Americans have been told, repeatedly, that the European Union is a paradise and nearly-perfect society where anybody who needs help (like Lilya) will get taxpayer-provided housing, education, and a job (or monthly check).
How can the events in this movie happen in the EU? -
k434 — 15 years ago(May 23, 2010 01:21 PM)
Hm.. Intresting political post. If you are realy from US then what you have heard about EU is overvalued. Yes we have a effecitive walfare system that covers EVERYONE but some still fall trough the cracks. She was a illegal alien and wasn't elegible for walefare benefits. Now EU is alot poorer an tons of people come here to look for a better life and a lot of them end up as beggars or in prostitution. What Obama is trying to do is only a fraction of what we have in europe and he is far from a socialist.
-
ajukoor — 12 years ago(July 04, 2013 02:31 PM)
Lilja is 16 years old. Her only friend is the young boy Volodja. They live in Estonia, fantasizing about a better life. One day, Lilja falls in love with Andrej. He is going to Sweden, and invites Lilja to come along and start a new life.
At least that's the descrition. So, I guess it was taking place in Estonia.
Please, visit my Hell Hole. Thank you!
http://prguauk.myminicity.com/ind -
ARH — 15 years ago(November 12, 2010 05:45 PM)
Also, is Estonia even a part of EU?
I've heard this film is based in either Russia (definetly not in EU) or maybe Estonia.
Yes, but only for a few years (http://ec.europa.eu/news/economy/100512_1_en.htm) most countries in the EU have been in it since 1993. -
ARH — 15 years ago(November 12, 2010 05:47 PM)
Hm.. Intresting political post. If you are realy from US then what you have heard about EU is overvalued. Yes we have a effecitive walfare system that covers EVERYONE but some still fall trough the cracks. She was a illegal alien and wasn't elegible for walefare benefits. Now EU is alot poorer an tons of people come here to look for a better life and a lot of them end up as beggars or in prostitution. What Obama is trying to do is only a fraction of what we have in europe and he is far from a socialist.
Again, Western and Eastern Europe are VERY different places. Almost like other worlds. -
estadefabula — 15 years ago(June 23, 2010 09:42 PM)
It happens everywhere, even here in the US, yes, here at the US, today, do a little investigation and you will see, you will be surprised, talk to the police, go to women shelters, you probably have a decent life but for many people it's a living hell.
Peace -
Strong_Style — 15 years ago(November 07, 2010 11:00 PM)
I live in America; nobody says this about the EU. I can only guess that you heard right-wing pundits sarcastically referring to Europe, and you didn't pick up on the sarcasm.
It's a mad house, this modern life.
It's a mad house, my faithless bride. -
poem — 15 years ago(November 08, 2010 04:17 AM)
Lilya didnt get help, because the criminal conditioned her to mistrust the police, so she never actually tried talking to them.
Otherwise she would have gotten help, especially since it was Sweden. Sweden, Norway, Finland and Denmark are the countries with the really strong welfare state.
Also yes, what we have in Europe is more of a democracy than the de-facto feudalism to be found in the USA. But its progressing fast toward the same development, even in Sweden.
Our ginis dont look too good either, albeit its still much better than the USA. -
poem — 10 years ago(September 17, 2015 11:53 PM)
Actually they do, they are officially all democracies, just like USA, Russia, Japan the only exception among the powerful countries is China.
Even if they wouldnt, it wasnt referenced anywhere in my posting and isnt relevant.
You shall have no other Kates before Kate Winslet. -
bite_me_loser_86 — 14 years ago(August 02, 2011 09:24 PM)
Oh, please, if you're going to act all smug, at least get your facts right.
Lilja didn't grow up in EU. She grew up in a poor area of the former USSR. Girls like her had no other choice but to 'go downtown and spread their legs' as her aunt said. There was obviously no welfare system in place and no authorities that were going to take care of her.
If she had been living in the EU and been abandoned by her mom, yes authorities would have taken care of her. She would get fed, clothed and a warm house to live in and probably also some pocket money to spend. WHen she turned 18 she would have gotten help finding an apartment. She would not have been forced to prostitute herself. I live in Sweden and something like this couldn't happen to a 16-year-old girl here. For you to not understand that there are considerable differences in living standards between former USSR and the Western European countries just proves that you like many Americans, it seems, view Europe as one homogenous collection of small 'socialist' countries.
But yes, quite a lot of trafficking goes on in Sweden. As it does all over the world, even in your precious USA. That is something authorities are trying to control of course. And young girls like Lilja, if rescued, would definitely not be sent back home, as her pimp scared her into believing. They'd be taken care of. -
turkeyprophet — 13 years ago(April 09, 2012 06:35 AM)
The European Union in not a place it is a union. It's like watching a film about Mexico and then complaining that NAFTA isn't the paradise you were told it was.
Also Estonia wasn't a member of the EU when this film came out so it has none of the privileges that the EU provides.