Free movies! Taipei International Labor Film Festival launches 4 films about migrant workers

According to the "4wayvoice", there are now 700,000 migrant workers in Taiwan. Not only do they support Taiwan’s industry, but their figures are also a familiar presence in the streets. However, the bitterness they encountered is not aware by many. 2021 Taipei International Labor Film Festival has started. This year, several migrant-worker-themed movies show outstanding performances. The public who are interested in issues related to migrant workers may learn more about this group of silent contributions around them through short films.

Read More: Taiwan Immigrants' Global News Network-In Taiwan, friendships between colleagues in workplaces makes Koreans feel incredible.

“The Lucky Woman” directed by Zeng Wen Zhen (曾文珍). (Photo / Retrieved from Labor Image Carnival勞動影像嘉年華website)

The story “The Lucky Woman” (逃跑的人) directed by Zeng Wen Zhen (曾文珍) presents the dilemma and helplessness of migrant workers through the appearance of two missing migrant workers. In the story, the Vietnamese migrant worker Cao Yun (草雲) paid an agency fee of US$8,000 to work in Taiwan. Before the expiration of the three-year contract, she chose to run away and lived a life worrying about being caught by the police. The movie depicts the migrant workers’ homesick feelings.

Read More: Taiwan Immigrants' Global News Network-New residents "without National Health Insurance card" can receive Quintuple stimulus vouchers? National Immigration Agency (Hsinchu City Service Station) answers

“There” directed by WU Yu-Fen (吳郁芬). (Photo / Retrieved from Labor Image Carnival勞動影像嘉年華website)

“There” (入世) directed by WU Yu-Fen (吳郁芬) was awarded first place in the short film group of the 2020 Labor Awards. The story focuses on an Indonesian caregiver Sally. After her grandfather passed away, she accompanied the grandma and fourth uncle to organize a funeral. Without the younger generation coming back for the funeral, she became the family representative of the grandpa at the funeral. She had mixed feelings while watching strippers dance and the professional mourner cry at the funeral.

“Moored in port” directed by Wu Guan Ying. (Photo / Retrieved from Labor Image Carnival勞動影像嘉年華website)

“Moored in port” (鄉外之地) directed by Wu Guan Ying (吳冠穎) is fishermen themed. It records the daily life, joys, and sorrows of the foreign crew members at the port. It may be difficult for the general public to imagine how it feels working at places far away from your hometown and unsure about when to return home. Most of the time, the only thing your eyes can see is the vast ocean, and you are completely disconnected from the outside world.

“Help is on the Way” directed by an Indonesian director Ismail Fahmi. (Photo / Retrieved from Labor Image Carnival勞動影像嘉年華website)

“Help is on the Way” (助守在異鄉) directed by an Indonesian director Ismail Fahmi focuses on the babysitter training school in Indramayu, West Java, Indonesia. This is a nursing training school and every year hundreds of women come here for training to work in as a caregiver overseas. There are about 75% of foreign caregivers in Taiwan come from Indonesia. This film also presents different life aspects with unique insights.