Haunted by the ghosts of SIEV-X
Rochelle Siemienowicz; 12/6/08
Film Review: Hope: 104 minutes. Rated: M. Director: Steve Thomas
In October 2001, a people-smuggling boat sank on its way from Indonesia to Australia. 353 people died, many of them women and children who were trying to join their husbands and fathers already here on temporary protection visas. This tragedy barely surfaced in our media, for these were the overheated days of post 9/11, and Australians were angrily arguing about another maritime accident, known as the ‘children overboard incident’. This film seeks to remedy this ignorance, by telling the story of the SIEV-X (Suspected Illegal Entry Vessel ‘Unknown’) through the account of one its survivors, Amal Basry, whose name means ‘Hope’ in her native language. With her hair covered in a dark scarf, this middle-aged woman looks very ordinary — like any other suburban grandmother of Middle-Eastern descent. But when Amal speaks she has a voice that demands to be heard, and a story that is unforgettable.
See: http://www.eurekastreet.com.au/article.aspx?aeid=7563
Tags: Australia, Refugees & Migrants