Year of Production: 2002
Duration: 52 Minutes
Awards: 2004 Logie Award Nomine
In Limbo follows the story of a Vietnamese-Australian lawyer who is determined to see 2000 Vietnamese boat people stranded in the Philippines regain their lives, identities and homes. Hoi Trinh has been fighting for the rights of these people for more than five years.
It’s a mammoth undertaking involving political lobbying and complex negotiations with immigration departments in Australia, the United States, Europe, Japan and the Philippines. It’s all co-ordinated from a tiny office in a run-down district of Manila where Hoi and two other volunteers live and work.
This film sees Hoi battle the Australian Immigration Department bureaucracy as he tries to resettle 50 refugee families in Australia. All have relatives already in Australia who are willing to sponsor their migration. Hoi meets with the Minister for Immigration, Philip Ruddock, to put forward a case based on humanitarian grounds. This time, the Minister accepts nine families; the rest will have to reapply.
In Limbo provides an insight into the immigration debate through the vision and dedication of one man’s struggle.
An Iris Pictures Production of a Dai Le Film. Produced in association with SBS Independent. Developed and produced with the financial assistance of the Australian Film Commission. Financed with the assistance of the Australian Film Finance Corporation.
producer — Jessica Douglas-Henry
director — Dai Le
Contact Screen Australia for Distribution or Program Sales.
