''Transit'' is a 2013 Filipino independent drama film written and directed by Hannah Espia. The film follows a story about a single father who is forced to hide his children from immigration police in Israel after the Israeli government decides to deport children of immigrant workers. It is Espia's full-length debut film. It was mostly shot in

Israel Israel (; he, יִשְׂרָאֵל, ; ar, إِسْرَائِيل, ), officially the State of Israel ( he, מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל, label=none, translit=Medīnat Yīsrāʾēl; ), is a country in Western Asia. It is situated ...

. The film competed under the New Breed section of Cinemalaya 2013. The film won Best Film, directing, acting and other technical awards. Espia said that the inspiration to do the film came after talking to an OFW who was bringing home his child from Israel. In 2009, the Israeli government enacted a law that deports the children of migrant workers unless they fulfill a certain criterion. Both Israeli and migrant workers rallied against the law that separates parents from their children. The film competed in the 18th Busan International Film Festival in the "New Currents" section. The film was selected as the Philippine entry for the

Best Foreign Language Film This is a list of categories of awards commonly awarded through organizations that bestow film awards, including those presented by various film, festivals, and people's awards. Best Actor/Best Actress *See Best Actor#Film awards, Best Actress#F ...

at the 86th Academy Awards, but it was not nominated.

Plot

The film begins and ends in an airport during a father and son's transit flight from

Tel Aviv Tel Aviv-Yafo ( he, תֵּל־אָבִיב-יָפוֹ, translit=Tēl-ʾĀvīv-Yāfō ; ar, تَلّ أَبِيب – يَافَا, translit=Tall ʾAbīb-Yāfā, links=no), often referred to as just Tel Aviv, is the most populous city in the ...

to Manila. It tells the story of Moises (

Ping Medina Crispin "Ping" Chupungco Medina Jr. (born July 23, 1983) is a Filipino film actor. Medina is a contract artist of Star Magic. Career Medina is a prominent independent film actor in the Philippines. He debuted in Marilou Diaz-Abaya's film ''Jos ...

), a Filipino single-dad working as a caregiver in Herzliya, Israel, who comes home to his apartment in Tel Aviv to celebrate his son Joshua (Marc Justine Alvarez)’s 4th birthday. It was on that day that Moises, together with their Filipino neighbors Janet (

Irma Adlawan Irma Santonil Adlawan (born March 7, 1962) is a Filipino stage, television and film actress. She is dubbed as the “''Queen of Independent Cinema''” for her acting prowess and exceptional contribution to Philippine film industry. Adlawan is ...

), and her daughter Yael (

Jasmine Curtis Jasmine Cassandra Curtis-Smith (; born April 6, 1994) is a Filipino-Australian actress, host, dancer, endorser, writer, and model. She is known internationally for her critically acclaimed performance in Hannah Espia's 2013 film ''Transit'', a ...

), find out that the Israeli government is going to deport children of foreign workers. Afraid of the new law, Moises and Janet decide to hide their children from the immigration police by making them stay inside the house.

Cast

as Moises *

as Janet * Jasmine Curtis-Smith as Yael *Marc Justine Alvarez as Joshua *

Mercedes Cabral Mercedes Cabral (born August 10, 1986) is a Filipino actress. She is best known for starring in Philippine arthouse and independent films, notably those by Brillante Mendoza such as '' Serbis'', '' Kinatay'', ''Captive'', and '' Thy Womb''. She ...

as Tina *Perla (Pnina) Bronstein as Rotem *Omer Juran as Omri *

Toni Gonzaga Celestine Cruz Gonzaga-Soriano (; born January 20, 1984), better known as Toni Gonzaga, is a Filipino singer, host, actress, producer, vlogger and entrepreneur. She is the former lead host of long-running reality show, ''Pinoy Big Brother''. To ...

as Joshua's Mother *Menahem Godick as Israeli policeman

Awards

* 2013 Cinemalaya Film Festival (New Breed) ** Best Film ** Audience Award ** Best Director – Hannah Espia ** Best Actress –

** Best Supporting Actress – Jasmine Curtis-Smith ** Special Jury Citation for Best Acting Ensemble – (

, Marc Alvarez,

) ** Best Cinematography – Ber Cruz and Lyle Nemenzo Sacris ** Best Editing – Benjamin Tolentino and Hannah Espia ** Best Score – Mon Espia *2014

Gawad Urian Awards The Gawad Urian Awards are annual film awards in the Philippines held since 1977. It is given by the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino (MPP, "the Filipino Film Critics") and is currently regarded as the counterpart of the United States' New York Fi ...

** Best Director – Hannah Espia

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Transit (2013 film) 2013 films 2013 drama films Philippine independent films Philippine New Wave Philippine drama films 2013 independent films