Hope: A fifty-minute documentary about Amal Basry
Directed by Steve Thomas and Sue Brooks
In production
PREVIEW BY SARAH STEPHEN
Hope is a story of survival and determination, of the indomitable and forgiving spirit of Iraqi refugee Amal Basry, who died of cancer on March 18. She survived the sinking of SIEVX (Suspected Illegal Entry Vessel — unknown) on October 19, 2001, when it sank into the ocean between Java and Australia. She stayed alive by clinging to the dead body of another woman passenger until, 15 hours later, she was rescued by Indonesian fisherpeople.
Film-makers Steve Thomas and Sue Brooks filmed several hours of footage of Amal and her story. Around half of this they funded themselves and half of it was funded by the Australian Film Commission. However, they are finding it difficult to raise the money to finish the film.
After hearing about the project and its funding difficulties, refugee supporters Rosalie Flynn and Joan Nestle decided to undertake the challenge of raising $10,000 to enable the film-makers to begin editing their footage.
"Unfortunately when applying for other funding we encountered the perception that 'We've seen enough films about refugees'",wrote Flynn and Nestle in an email to refugee supporters.
"We do this because we believe this is a story that must be told, that by contributing to such a project we are refusing the cold-heartedness of these times, and because we believe that many of our friends and others who hear of this project will want to be part of creating a film that refuses official silences.
"Amal tells her story with dignity and hope. She tells her story not as a victim of inhumane regimes or cruel policies but as a survivor with hope, desire and gratitude. She is a woman who refuses to despair and is still in wonder at the beauties of life.
"We have kick-started the fund with $500. Any contribution that you make, no matter how small, will help ensure this film gets made. We will acknowledge all donations by email and keep you informed of our progress towards our target of $10,000. If you would like to make a donation in the name of someone, or as a gift, we will make sure that person is informed. If we can't reach our target through direct donations, we will be organising some fund-raising events, but hopefully this will not be necessary."
Here is your opportunity to play a role in keeping alive one woman's experience of being a refugee in this country, to overcome feelings of helplessness in the face of inhumane government.
Brooks has written and co-produced award winning and commercially successful feature films Road to Nhill and Japanese Story and has co-produced, co-written and directed award-winning documentaries including High Heels and Land of the Long Weekend. She has been a mentor and creative or directing consultant on several of Thomas's documentary projects including Black Man's Houses (1992), Least Said, Soonest Mended (1999) and Family Foibles (2001, series).
Kim Anning (co-producer) and Thomas have worked together on all of Thomas's documentaries since Errands of Mercy (1998) and most recently they co-produced Welcome to Woomera (Film Australia, 2004).
If you would like to make a donation to the film fund, mail a cheque (payable to Refugee Voices) to Rosalie Flynn at 7 Alister Street, North Fitzroy, VIC 3068 or Joan Nestle at 4 Fitzgibbon Avenue, West Brunswick, VIC 3055.
For more information about the project email Joan Nestle at
<cellonest@yahoo.com> or Rosalie Flynn at <rosalie@precisionconsultancy.com.au>
From Green Left Weekly, May 24, 2006.
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