TRANSIT: TRAUMA OF IMMIGRANTS BY PRADIP BISWAS, THE INDIAN EXPRESS NEWSPAPERS, INDIA JURY MEMBER INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL OF INDIA AND FRIBOURG INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL, SWISS 44TH INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL OF INDIA, GOA, 2013 Hannah Espia, a new entrant into the cinema in Philippines, has been presented at the IFFI, Goa, 2013 with her film TRANSIT. The film roughly deals with the deportation of children born to foreign workers in Israel has been brought under the scanner “Transit.” Hannah is so much touched by the cruel problems of immigrants of children the concerned Filipino parents strive to prevent their forced removal of their Israeli-born, Hebrew-speaking children. While tackling such a live issue Hannah has gracefully directed and inventively employed means to make it a work of universal human problem. Incidentally Hannah has won the major prize in the New Breed section at Cinemalaya for a human documenat. “ The film is of 93 minute duration. The fact is that though dealing specifically with laws affecting some of the 40,000 Filipinos currently living and working in Israel, “Transit” also speaks of the broader global tragic scnerio of displaced people — whether refugees, asylum seekers or foreign guest workers — who are forced to dessert homeland in search of a better life and living.The story takes place in 2009 and 2010, when Israel announced changes to citizenship status of children born to foreign workers. It narrates how Janet (Irma Adlawan), a cleaner and single mother who has lived in Israel for many years, this means the possible deportation of teenage daughter Yael (Jasmine Curtis-Smith), whose Israeli father is mentioned but never seen. And this triggers of hele of problems for the law-keepers of the land. Living in even greater fear is Janet’s brother, Moises (a home-care nurse for kind-hearted old man Eliav and solo parent of 4-year-old Joshua. The Govt. goes stern on the issue of immigrants and promulgates tough new laws promising the removal of children under 5, Moises takes the extreme step of keeping Joshua indoors until his next birthday, at which time his legal position improves somewhat. Also appears in the mix is Tina, a Filipino friend of Janet’s who arrives in Israel with high hopes of sending a significant sum of money home to her family. However, due to flaws in treatment Tina’s absorbing story fizzles out in the film’s midpoint. What is of good interst is that Janet’s and Moises’ respective dramas are much more satisfyingly played out, both of them concerned with the notion of identity and fraternity. Janet is saddened by Yael’s inability to speak Tagalog and unwillingness to identify with her Filipino background; with an Israeli boyfriend, Omri, Yael sees herself as exclusively Israeli. Moises’ frantic efforts to hide Joshua from authorities raises questions of whether the perceived promise of a better future is worth the price of living in such fear. Hannah in her treatment is aware of immigrants issue all over the globe that uproot thousands of immigrant like dos and cats. Hannah structures her film in a way that does not look melodramatic or unrealistic. Herein lies the forte of her work. Scenes set among the larger Filipino worker community around Tel Aviv effectively capture the spirit of fraternity among outsiders, as well as the flipside of suspicion surrounding those who may have turned informant for their own gain. It is good to see that the Israeli civilians are shown as sympathetic to the foreign-worker cause; immigration officials and police are seen as neither relishing nor objecting to their work. TRANSIT IS a bit prosaic work but appeals to the audience, alive with sensibility. Busan Film Review: ‘Transit’ Reviewed at Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival (New Breed), Aug. 3, 2013. (Also in Busan Film Festival — New Currents, competing.) Running time: 93 MIN.
Posted on: Wed, 09 Jul 2014 12:35:45 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015