Remittance 2015
Distributed by New Day Films, 350 North Water Street Unit 1-12, Newburgh, NY 12550; 888-367-9154
Produced by Frank Hall Green
Directed by Patrick Daly and Joel Fendelman
Streaming, 90 mins
College - General Adult
Drama; Family; Sociology
Date Entered: 09/14/2021
Reviewed by Johnnie N. Gray, Technology Services Librarian, Christopher Newport UniversityA film in a neorealism style on the subject of Asian families working away from home and sending money back to their families. The film follows Marie as she leaves home to support her husband and three children. Once employed, she realizes that she has to give most of her money back to the agency she is from. The viewer follows as Marie works as a domestic servant and eventually picks up extra money working for a bar, unbeknownst to her employer family. Marie starts to meet other domestic servants in the same situation as herself and her confidence builds. She realizes that she wants to open her own business back home and starts to keep money for herself. Unfortunately, trouble at home makes her leave Singapore and tend to her family, which has been falling apart. Soon, her dreams of opening up a hair salon are dashed as her estranged husband steals what savings she has accumulated. Utilizing real domestic workers as some of the cast lends to an authentic feeling as if you are watching a documentary unfolding.
Ultra-realistic and well-acted, Remittance is the tale of many families that send a mother or father away to find work, spending months away from their loved ones. At times you forget you are watching a drama. It is a slow burn of a film, but an important one that conveys the difficult journey undertaken by many who earn money and send it back to families. Enjoyable and engaging with a high production value, Remittance can easily be used in any social science classes to help with understanding societies where the act of remittance is common. Common themes in this film include marital trouble, teen pregnancy, female empowerment, servitude, and Filipino culture. Highly recommended!
Awards:Best Feature, Cineaid Film Festival 2016; Jury Award, Oceanside Film Festival 2016; Audience Choice, Green Bay Film Festival 2016; Best Feature, Flyway Film Festival 2015; Best Actress and Screenplay, Brooklyn Film Festival; Best Actress, World Premiere Film Festival; Best Director Richmond Film Festival; Best Feature, Foot-candle Film Festival
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