Australian
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Teacher’s notes

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This clip shows the dilemmas of the Robles, an El Salvadorian refugee family in Australia, as they confront the decision of Carlos Robles to return home alone. A subdued Carlos speaks on camera and in voice-over about how he believes migrant women succeed better than their husbands and how this can affect marriages. Maria Robles is shown walking to work, briefcase in hand, and teaching English to migrants. She is heard speculating about the future. The family is filmed at the beach and at the airport as they farewell Carlos.

Educational value points

• The effect of displacement on refugee families including effects on identity, gender roles within the family and notions of home are major themes of this clip. Filmed at a pivotal time in their own and their country’s history, there is conflict within the Robles family over their future life and their future home now that El Salvador’s civil war is over. This conflict is central to scenes shown in the clip, especially in the final scene at the airport.

• The Robles family is an example of those who fled to Australia as refugees from their homelands because of civil war and fears for their safety. Civil war in El Salvador from 1980 to 1992 resulted in the deaths of 70,000 people and in 25 per cent of the population being displaced as refugees through a campaign of torture and terror. Refugees resettled in Australia from 1982, and the Robles family came in the mid-1980s.

• English language acquisition plays a key role in successful resettlement in Australia as it affects employment prospects and can affect family status and self-esteem. Carlos, an educated man but lacking confidence in using English, is employed in a hospital kitchen. His wife Maria is more successful in adapting, teaching English in a language school. Carlos is seen as depressed and withdrawn.

• This clip is typical of the way Tom Zubrycki, one of Australia’s foremost documentary makers, explores social issues through personal stories. Zubrycki is an observational filmmaker who builds up a relationship of trust with the subjects of his films, spending long periods with them and allowing the narrative to emerge on film. Refugees Carlos and Maria speak very candidly to the camera, which ‘observes’ the family’s interaction during intimate moments.

• Zubrycki uses a cutaway scene during the interview with Carlos that both illustrates what he is saying and provides a poignant commentary on the family’s situation. Carlos is talking of separation within the family and his wife’s success. Maria is shown from a distance carefully picking her way through an empty lot of land dressed in a smart suit and in high heels. She is an isolated figure shown against the background of cars and a stationary train.

• In the 1970s Australia formally recognised its humanitarian commitment and responsibility for the resettlement of refugees, people subject to persecution in their home countries. In the 1980s large numbers of refugees from Indochina resettled in Australia, as well as many from Latin America including El Salvador. Census data in 2001 showed that 9,696 Salvadorans were living in Australia.

This clip starts approximately 13 minutes into the documentary.

Carlos Robles is being interviewed at his workplace.
Carlos Robles (speaks Spanish) We’ve never been split up before. It’s hard to cope with feelings within the family. It’s the first time we’ve had to face this.

Sorrowful music plays as Maria Robles walks to work across a vacant lot holding a briefcase. In the background vehicles are passing a stationary train. Seagulls fly up in front of where Maria is walking.
Carlos (speaks Spanish) My wife has really done well for herself here. I haven’t done so well myself.

Maria is teaching English to her students in class.
Maria Robles Celery. Come on, gentlemen, you do shopping too.

The interview with Carlos continues over footage of her teaching.
Carlos (speaks Spanish) Many migrant women come into their own here faster than they would in their native countries. In many cases, they do better than their husbands.

Maria places the celery on one of her student’s desks.
Maria He will be the shop assistant, or the shop owner, ha, OK.
Carlos (speaks Spanish) Here, women feel they have more freedom. They can develop themselves in any direction they like. This can help a marriage become more stable or, on the contrary, it can destroy it.

Carlos and his daughters are spending time together at the beach, playing on the boardwalks. A man photographs an unrelated wedding party in the distance. Carlos is constantly distracted. Narration and an interview with Maria is played over these images. Sounds of nature fill the silences.
Photographer Lean forward. Lean further.
Narrator It was the day before Carlos departed for El Salvador. Not even he knew how long he would be away. I sensed that his leaving left everyone, everything, up in the air.
Maria I don’t know what our future will be. He’s thinking of living there forever but I want my daughters to decide, when they are ready, if they want to go back or stay.

The Robles family is saying goodbye to Carlos at the airport. Everyone is hugging Carlos and the girls are crying. Carlos leaves, waving goodbye.
Carlos (speaks Spanish) Take care of your mother and your sisters.
Daughter (speaks Spanish) Don’t stay over there, Dad.