The Market (2011)
A documentary tracing two women — one in India, one in Canada — caught on opposite sides of the global organ trade.
The Market - Movie Information
- Release Year: 2011
- Directed by: Rama Rau
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Documentary
- Runtime: 1h 10m
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: Tamil
- Release Date (Theatrical): March 11, 2011 (Czech Republic)
- Production Companies: Storyline Entertainment
- Production Countries: Canada, India
The Market - Plot
In a slum in Chennai, India, a young mother of two, wants to sell her kidney so she can pay off the crippling debts of her family. If she sells Hema will be the fifth member of her family to sell a kidney for an amount that represents several years' wages. Across the world in Nanaimo, Canada, forty year old single mom Sandra's kidneys are failing and she has been on a waiting list for 5 years now. Two different people. Two journeys.
The Market - Trailer
Watch the official trailer and see these two compelling stories unfold:
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The Market - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Rama Rau
Writers
- Rama Rau
Producers
- Ed Barreveld
The Market - FAQs
What is The Market about?
The Market follows two women on opposite sides of the global organ trade. In Chennai, India, a young mother considers selling her kidney to erase her family's crushing debt. In Nanaimo, Canada, a single mom has been waiting five years for a kidney transplant. Their parallel journeys expose the human cost of a desperate, shadowy market.
Is The Market based on real people and events?
Yes, The Market documents real individuals. Hema, the Chennai mother, would be the fifth person in her family to sell a kidney. Sandra, the Canadian recipient, faces kidney failure after years on a waiting list. Director Rama Rau filmed both women's authentic stories, making this a deeply personal and factual account of the organ trade.
Who directed The Market documentary?
The Market was directed by Rama Rau, a Canadian filmmaker known for tackling socially urgent subjects. Rau also wrote the film, bringing a deeply personal and investigative lens to the global organ trade. Her dual role as director and writer gives the documentary a cohesive, compassionate point of view throughout.
What makes The Market's storytelling structure unique?
Rather than focusing on institutions or statistics, The Market places two individual women at its center — one a potential seller in India, one a desperate recipient in Canada. This parallel structure creates an intimate, human-scale portrait of the organ trade, letting viewers feel the weight of each woman's impossible situation without ever reducing them to symbols.
Where can you watch The Market online?
You can find streaming and viewing options for The Market on JustWatch, which lists current availability across platforms in your region. Availability may vary depending on your country, so checking JustWatch is the easiest way to see where the film is currently accessible for rent, purchase, or streaming.
How does The Market explore organ trafficking themes?
The film avoids sensationalism, instead grounding organ trafficking in lived experience. By showing Hema's family history — four relatives already sold kidneys before her — and Sandra's years-long medical ordeal, The Market reveals how poverty and healthcare inequality fuel an underground market that preys on the vulnerable while quietly serving the desperate.
How long is The Market and when was it released?
The Market runs 70 minutes — a tight, focused runtime that suits its intimate documentary style. The film had its release on March 11, 2011, in the Czech Republic, and was produced jointly between Canada and India, reflecting the two countries at the heart of its story.
What are similar documentaries to The Market?
If The Market resonated with you, consider Girl Model (2011), which examines exploitation in the global modeling industry, or Tricked: The Documentary (2013) on human trafficking. A Plastic Ocean (2016) and Leviathan (2013) also explore systemic global issues with a similarly immersive, human-centered documentary approach.
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