Caught in the Net – V siti (2020)

Directed by: Barbora Chalupová, Vít Klusák | 100 minutes | documentary, crime | Starring: Sabina Dlouhá, Anezka Pithartova, Tereza Tezká

‘Caught in the Net’ is a social experiment turned into a confrontational documentary, in which filmmakers Barbora Chalupová and Vít Klusák expose the extent of online child abuse in their native Czech Republic. Difficult to watch at times, but certainly an important account of the dangers that regularly await children on the Internet.

At the beginning of the documentary, Chalupová and Klusák send out a casting message, looking for three adult actresses with a young appearance. During the audition, the actresses learn that they have to play a 12-year-old who will video chat with complete strangers through various online fake profiles. The filmmakers, accompanied by psychologists, lawyers and other specialists, will monitor the interactions to study the men’s behavior. To make it look as realistic as possible, the production team built a real movie set consisting of three young girls’ bedrooms, complete with elements from the actresses’ real lives.

The three women who are eventually selected, Sabina, Anezka and Tereza, are soon chatting with several men. Within five minutes of one of them creating an account, she has already received dozens of requests. Within minutes of exchanging messages with the first man, she received a photo of his genitals. The film team is shocked, but it is only the beginning of an extensive web of depravity. Over the next ten days, the trio of actresses will be approached by more than 2,000 men via Facebook, Skype and several Czech social media websites.

What could have easily been a cheap TV stunt is instead a gripping, confrontational exploration of how men prey on young girls online. We realize early on how common the phenomenon is: when the filmmakers audition with the actresses, a majority of them say they experienced some form of online abuse themselves as children. And indeed, as soon as Sabina, Anezka and Tereza’s profiles go up, messages from grown men start pouring in at breakneck speed. We all know that things like this happen, but the extent and the way these individuals operate is simply mind-boggling.

As the experiment progresses, the documentary shows a clear escalation in the aggressive methods enforced by these men. In some cases they turn to blackmail, with which they repeatedly try to pressure the girls. Later on, their reprehensible character becomes even more apparent. When the men propose to meet in person, the actresses agree and hidden cameras and microphones, along with secretive security guards, are placed in a Prague restaurant. The things the men then say in the restaurant, while enjoying a cup of coffee, are downright poignant. As a viewer, you would prefer to scream and stamp your feet. The realization that these things happen on a daily basis is indigestible.

‘Caught in the Net’ is not an easy viewing experience, but an important one. The intent of the documentary is not to punish these specific offenders, but to shed light on the world we have created for young internet users. It achieves that goal with precision and solidity. This is a documentary that should be seen by as many people as possible.