In 2010, Israel began deporting the children of migrant workers, many of whom were fluent only in Hebrew and had never seen the land of their parents.
First-time director Hannah Espia’s Transit humanizes the families torn apart and the children forced into hiding and lifetimes of deception by the new immigration policy. The Philippines’ entry for the Oscars’ foreign-language category follows three Filipino-Israeli children whose suddenly illegal presence in the country that they call home creates rifts with their parents.
The film has its North American premiere on January 4 at the Palm Springs Film Festival. It is the Philippines entry in the foreign language category.
Watch the trailer below: