Starting Over (Empezar de nuevo)

2023. TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO. 23’. DOCUMENTARY FILM

Starting Over is a short documentary film directed by Rhonda Chan Soo, and produced by Arnaldo James, for the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), with support from the European Union, through the Inclusive Cities/Communities of Solidarity (ICCS) project. 

Synopsis

Starting Over explores refugees and migrants exeriences of working in Trinidad and Tobago (T&T). In particular, it centres UNHCR-registered refugees who were granted the temporary right to work by the T&T government in 2019. The film takes place in Chaguanas, named an “Inclusive City” under the ICCS project, due to the high concentration of refugees and migrants residing there. In the film, we hear from this group as they share their hopes, challenges, and triumphs, and also from local experts, professionals, and people who either work or reside in the Inclusive City. We examine the ways in which refugees and migrants are contributing to their host country, as well as their outlook in Chaguanas, and in Trinidad and Tobago more broadly. 

Director’s statement

Environmental, political and economic crises have brought many of us across the world face to face with displacement and its accompanying – often politicized – complexities. Starting Over picks up where my previous two documentaries Nearest Neighbours (2019), and The Challengers, (2022) leave off.

Nearest Neighbours (2019) called us to question: “In a world where innocent people suffer the consequences of socio-political and economic fallouts, what is the collective responsibility of humanity to alleviate inequity? Can anything be done and why should we even care?”

The Challengers (2022) follows up on this, highlighting the endeavours of an ordinary hero who saw the potential of otherwise marginalised people, and challenged the barriers that kept them excluded. There’s still more work to be done, but the story gives hope that with passion, acceptance, patience and kindness, it’s possible to overcome any challenge. 

Starting Over (2023) looks at what could be considered a subsequent chapter where members of the refugee and migrant community are contributing to the societies in which they live through their workplaces, however, they continue to face challenges due to inadequate protections and persistent xenophobia. The film aims to provide a platform through which members of this group can share directly on their experiences as they seek to earn a living.