Confronting Silence: Family Reunification and Mental Health in the Filipino Diaspora in Inay

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Confronting Silence: Family Reunification and Mental Health in the Filipino Diaspora in Inay

Thea and cinematographer Jeremiah Reyes—a Filipino husband-and-wife team—turn the camera on themselves in Inay (Tagalog for “Mama”) to explore the cultural and psychological impacts on children whose mothers left the Philippines out of economic necessity. Thea begins a thoughtful inquiry into the experiences of family separation by interviewing her husband, Jeremiah, and her best friend, Shirley. Through her explorations, Inay intertwines personal narratives with historical context to shed light on the impact of migration policies created by the Live-In Caregiver Program (LCP). As a viewer, I stumbled with Thea as she navigates the pain and trauma her partner and friend have experienced through migration and mental illness and challenges the notion of normalcy within Filipino immigrant experiences. 

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A deep dive into Seagrass reveals the intergenerational trauma that lingers within Japanese-Canadian communities

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A deep dive into Seagrass reveals the intergenerational trauma that lingers within Japanese-Canadian communities

There’s something quite eerie about the image of seagrass floating in the darkness of the deep ocean. Imagine yourself drifting in the middle of open water as it moves beneath you, unbeknownst to when it will reach out to graze your bare skin. It’s a haunting image, and it’s one that lingers.

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Mother Tongues, Memories, and Movement: Inside a Culturally Appropriate Program for Immigrant Seniors

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Mother Tongues, Memories, and Movement: Inside a Culturally Appropriate Program for Immigrant Seniors

I followed the clacks of ping pong balls and board game pieces to find the church basement where Gaia Community Care and Wellness Society (Gaia Cares) runs its weekly wellness program for Chinese-speaking seniors. As I approached, the percussive ricochets were soon accompanied by the familiar syncopation of Cantonese–a language ingrained in me from a young age, yet limited to basic conversations and ordering dim sum items. On this day, I was determined to practice my Cantonese with the seniors at Gaia, while understanding that the challenge of expressing myself in another language was temporary and voluntary, but a facet of everyday life for many older immigrant adults.

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"how to act white" by dax heaven

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"how to act white" by dax heaven

Automatic doors slide open, decoying invitation. I follow my dad silently to the back of the store–wet boots squeaking softly on linoleum tile, a trail of puddles tracking us. He studies a bottle of red, nodding pensively. “Aus-tray-lee-ah,” he draws out the word, turning over the syllables in his palate before repeating it in mother tongue, “澳洲.” As if he hasn’t procured the same bottle of liquor for a decade. “Aus-tray-lee-ah 酒!” he declares.

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An Interview with Jason Karman, Director of Golden Delicious

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An Interview with Jason Karman, Director of Golden Delicious

With views of mountains, alleyways paved between detached homes in Hastings Sunrise, and the sandy and grassy area of Trout Lake, Golden Delicious emulates the familiarity of home and the meaning behind it; what it means to feel at home with yourself, your family and those around you. Jason Karman's first feature-length film premiere at VIFF examines the coming-of-age story of a young Asian Canadian navigating his sexuality, the people he cares about, and his parents he doesn’t want to let down. 

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“Just the Two of Us”: Diasporic Intimacies in Anthony Shim’s Riceboy Sleeps

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“Just the Two of Us”: Diasporic Intimacies in Anthony Shim’s Riceboy Sleeps

Directed by Vancouver-based Anthony Shim, Riceboy Sleeps tells the story of single mother So-Young (Choi Seung-yoon) and her son Dong-hyun (Dohyun Noel Hwang, Ethan Hwang). Their immigrant narrative begins after So-Young’s partner, Han Won-Shick, struggles with schizophrenia and commits suicide in Seoul, leaving Dong-hyun to be born out of wedlock and therefore delegitimized for South Korean citizenship.

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