From the very beginning of the review, the name pinned in my head was Alan Kurdi. A three-year-old Syrian boy whose image made global headlines after he drowned on September 2nd 2015 in the Mediterranean Sea. Yes, that poor baby was a refugee and after that incident in overnight the refugee as well as asylum seekers crisis became a global issue. Nowadays in world politics, this is one of the most consequential issues. The short film 'Touch' shows how after surviving war, how those poverty-stricken vagrants are persisting in their lives.
The story begins with a Tamil interpreter who is fighting for the Asylum seekers in Australia. The current situation of the Asylum seekers makes her frustrated and her frustration level forces her to quit the job. But in a last massage therapy session, an asylum seeker's dreadful and nightmarish past changes her way of thinking. The asylum seeker lady had a beautiful untroubled and gleeful past with her parents, husband, and babies. But war demolished everything. Armies brutally murdered her husband, not only that the bloodthirsty monsters gang raped the helpless woman. Through a lot of obstacles, she alone escaped from her country and came to Australia. The severe trauma of that incident took away all her emotions. During the massage therapy, she reminisces about her past and burst into tears. This incident remolds the frame of mind of the interpreter.
These poor refugees and asylum seekers are forced migrants, they are forced to leave their homes and seek protection as a result of conflict or persecution. According to a report, about 86% of the world's refugees are living in developing countries. Australia's humanitarian intake has remained relatively steady over the last 20 years, with around 12,000 to 13,000 people typically accepted every year. The barbarism and cruelty during the war; the helplessness of the refugees, are perfectly pictured in the film. All the actors did their job so perfectly and passionately that it is really very difficult to mention ones. Especially the character of therapist took the eye and I think every refugee needs that motherly "Touch". Editing and sound quality incomparably harmonize with the film. Story line of the film is so proficient and up to the par that music in the film was like an auxiliary.
Refugees who have lost their own country, own culture are also ordinary people like us. These helpless people should get some privilege and sympathy. We don't want to discern another Alan Kurdi. Only love, care, and attachment can help these poor people to retrieve their normal life again. Director Ghirija Jayarraj needs a lot of kudos and claps for giving us such a sublime message.
Arindam Bhunia/Cult Critic/CICFF