Chasing Asylum: A Must-See Documentary For All Australians
From the Government’s ‘stop the boats’ rhetoric to Peter Dutton’s absurd ‘illiterate’ claims, it is no wonder that the Australian public is often left in the dark on asylum seeker issues. For many of us, it’s not that we don’t care, we just don’t know, and it’s sometimes hard to cut through the bullshit.
If you’re like me and are feeling pretty disillusioned, I highly recommend Eva Orner’s latest documentary ‘Chasing Asylum’. The Academy Award winning film maker returned from the US last year to expose the truth behind Australia’s offshore detention policies. From start to finish, I felt ashamed, heart broken and extremely uncomfortable. She tells this story in an unassuming way, meaning you could have spent the past five years living under a rock.
An interview with Malcom Fraser is one of the film’s highlights, providing a refreshingly sane political perspective, “It was the right thing to do, especially considering we had been involved in the conflict” (on re settling Vietnamese refugees).
It’s not exactly dinner party conversation and more often than not, it is quickly swept under the rug. During a Q&A after the screening, Orner announced to the crowd that there is simply no excuse to say ‘we don’t know’ now. So take up the opportunity to join the conversation and witness an incredibly brave and daring piece of cinematography.