Ever since the Western world was faced with an immense influx of immigrants in 2015, issues like integration and cultural identity again define the political and social agenda of many countries. While the pictures of shipwrecked boats and tired, exhausted people arriving on the coasts of Europe have been imprinted on our minds for some time, there is the question whether this will be just a moment of contemplation for us or lead to some more sustainable steps on how to deal fairly with immigration without treading on populist grounds. Japan with its traditionally enclosed culture, which has its problems with integrating people from outside, has also faced issues like the ones mentioned before, with many trying to immigrate and applying for residence, but only a few of them being accepted.
“Proof of Family” is screening at Nippon Connection 2020
In his short documentary “Proof of Family”, director Yu Iwasaki takes a look at these and several other issues surrounding the topic of integration. Focusing on the life of Ephrem, an immigrant from Ethiopia, who came to Japan over ten years ago with his family, Iwasaki portrays especially the bureaucratic struggle of being legally accepted within Japanese society. It is a frustrating struggle, but all the more hopeful as Ephrem's ongoing efforts may finally lead to some positive results for him and his family.
Over the course of 34 minutes, Iwasaki manages to show both sides of a very complex topic. Centering on the life of one person and his family, he presents the strenuous process of wading through the jungle of strict immigration laws, which would not even regard Ephrem's daughter Betania as his own, since he still does not have permanent residency. At the same time. the images of his day-to-day job working for an oil recycling company and how he meets several clients as well as the various scenes of the small group of Ethiopian immigrants meeting Japanese people represent a glimpse of hope, an idea of the most important part of social integration has already been a success. Especially the community festivities, when both cultures celebrate, dance and eat side by side illustrate, at least in this individual case, how the complicated project of integration might just work and could benefit both cultures.
“Proof of Family” is an optimistic, hopeful look at the subjects of immigration and integration within the Japanese culture. While also presenting the bureaucratic struggles and the strict judicial side of the matter, director Yu Iwasaki remains rather positive, which is specifically due to his likable, charismatic protagonist and his family.
