Narooma Kinema on Thursday 10 November at 6.15pm. Hosted by the Refugee Action Collective Eurobodalla.
by The Beagle
Scattered People poster
This Australian documentary is about the healing power of music. It follows Saha and Mas, two Iranian musicians who are seeking asylum in Australia. While in immigration detention they meet the Scattered People band, kindred spirits who play music and create songs with refugees and asylum seekers.
Interviews and music from Archie Roach, Missy Higgins, John Butler, Michael Franti, Katie Noonan, Dan Sultan, Robbie James and Baker Boy are included in the film. Scattered People explores how music can help unite, heal and restore compassion for some of the most vulnerable people on our planet.
The Scattered People band made weekly visits to a detention centre in Brisbane giving a creative space for some and a life saving experience for others. Detainees offer their poems, heartfelt stories of courage and character, which the musicians turn into songs.
The Refugee Action Collective Eurobodalla will show the film as a fundraiser for the Australian charity Cisarua Learning which supports refugee led schools in Indonesia and Malaysia.
Stranded in Indonesia and denied work or education rights, refugees started their own school in Cisarua, a district in West Java. Cisarua Refugee Learning Centre is entirely run by volunteer refugees and teaches over 200 students aged between 5 and 65. Its approach has been followed by at least ten other refugee led schools.
Since 2014 Cisarua Refugee Learning Centre has created a strong community around the school, giving hope and purpose to refugees, many of whom were extremely isolated and depressed.
There are 14,000 refugees stranded in Indonesia and only a few are taken to safety each year by Australia and other countries.
Australia should restart the process of taking refugees from countries in our South East Asian region. In recent years, Australia has only taken 50 or 60 people from Indonesia. We can do better and work with our neighbours to find safety and permanent homes for people fleeing persecution.
Scattered People will be shown at Narooma Kinema on Thursday 10 November at 6.15pm.
