Summaries

Synopsis

In todays globalized economy the first world mother is able to go out and work because of the services of the third world woman who replaces her at home. Josephine Perera is one such migrant worker from Sri Lanka who has spent the last ten years of her life taking care of the homes and families of others. She worked in the Middle East and then moved on to Southern Europe and currently works in Athens, Greece taking care of two- year-old Isadora. Isadoras mother lives and works in Paris. Josephine has not seen her own children in ten years. They share a less fortunate fate in the home country, left to the miserable care of orphanages and unwilling relatives. Josephines youngest son, Suminda was only two when she migrated, the same age that Isadora is now. The film juxtaposes the tender loving care that Josephine lavishes upon the Greek child with the stark deprivation of Sumindas life in the orphanage for abandoned children in Hatton, Sri Lanka. After an absence of ten years, Josephine finally has her much coveted work visa and can travel to her home country to visit her children. She will be home for a brief month during Christmas. The camera follows her on this historic journey documenting the inevitable loss and longing, expectations and disappointments of such a transitory union. Through Josephines story we become witness to the restructuring of entire societies where women become the bread-winners in foreign lands. Ironically it is through their gender functions that they earn their economic freedom though never in the context of their own families and culture.