Organized by the International College of Innovation USR Project in collaboration with the Serve the People Association (SPA), the screening of the documentary Lina followed by a director Q&A took place on November 7th in the General Building.
Director Ms. Chen 陳曉雯導演 attended and guided the audience through Lina’s story — an Indonesian counselor at a migrant shelter who once sought refuge there herself. The event combined a film screening and post-screening discussion to deepen understanding of the structural and personal challenges migrant workers face in Taiwan, including abusive labor conditions, sexual harassment, employer retaliation, and pregnancy discrimination.
陳曉雯導演’ Remarks — Director Q&A
On filming intention and how the story evolved
Chen explained that she first met Lina in 2014, when Lina was a trafficking victim receiving aid at a shelter. Chen explained that most shelters in Taiwan are operated by religious organizations, and NGOs like SPA must navigate complex application processes to secure government funding for room and board. While the original project was intended to document the shelter itself, Lina’s personal trajectory, which took her from victim to staff member and eventually to advocate, naturally became the film’s central focus. As Chen put it:
“We used Lina as our main character, but through Lina, we can gain insight into the ongoing conversations and the sexual harassment cases that are happening.”
She emphasized that many of the film’s core themes emerged organically during production rather than being predetermined. She also confirmed that the filmmakers obtained consent to film Lina and her family life.
On intuitive filming and capturing intimate moments
When asked how she captured the poignant closing scene of Lina and her son on the motorbike, Chen described relying on atmosphere and intuition rather than clear audio:
“The wind was so strong I couldn’t even hear the conversation. A mini-microphone was attached to Lina, so the moment was more felt than heard.”
She added that many meaningful moments occurred en route to filming locations, such as in the taxi. Even when she did not understand Indonesian, Chen said she read body language and used her intuition to decide when to film, later shaping those moments in the edit.
The director shared her thoughts about the filming after the screening. (Photo credit: ICI)
On systemic pressures facing migrant workers: placement fees and job changes
Chen provided context on the structural issues depicted in the film. She explained that high job placement fees have increased since a 2016 policy change that allowed migrant workers to change employers without leaving Taiwan. In response, some agencies began charging large fees to profit from job transfers. Chen noted that these fees, combined with the difficulty of changing employers, deepen the precarity and debt burdens migrant workers face.
On employer retaliation and stigma against pregnant workers
The director shared that employer retaliation is not uncommon. In one severe case recounted during the Q&A, a worker with a job-related injury who was staying at a shelter was reported by their employer as “missing” and subsequently arrested. Chen explained that workers who seek shelter often face barriers to finding new employment because new employers assume there was a dispute with the previous employer. Pregnant migrant mothers face even greater stigma and sometimes hide their pregnancies to avoid being refused work.
On legal recourse and challenges in the justice system
Chen was candid about the limits of legal protection. She recounted a troubling case in which a judge dismissed a sexual assault claim by suggesting the repeated nature of the incidents implied consent. She stressed that courts and civil institutions often fail to fully recognize migrant workers’ debts and precarious situations, which hampers the equity of justice in Taiwan.
On the director’s path to activism
Chen described her own background in social movement work: she became involved in activism as a university student, later worked with labor unions after graduation, and eventually joined the founders of SPA. She emphasized that SPA’s goals extend beyond shelter provision to empowering migrant workers to organize and advocate for their rights, a long-term project that has already seen some success with the formation of a few migrant worker unions.
The screening and discussion successfully used Lina as a lens to illuminate the everyday realities and systemic barriers faced by migrant workers in Taiwan. The event prompted reflection on social structures, legal protections, and the role of civil society in supporting vulnerable populations.
Students from the course “Capstone: Migration Studies” and participants joined the post-screening discussions. (Photo credit: ICI)
