What is Émigré about?

Émigré

It's about placing in parallel the historical and the contemporary narratives so as to highlight the idea that immigration is merely the consequence of a global society rather than a modern 'problem'.

As a director I may speak with a Western, English accent but I come from Eastern European Jewish stock. Visually, I don't look like I come from somewhere 'other', but I do, and my forefathers came to this country knowing no one, with nothing and without speaking the language.

Just over 100 years ago my flesh and blood arrived via the Manchester ship canal to start a new life - with the intention of living free from persecution. They were the asylum seekers of their time.

By placing their story against the real life narrative of immigrants living within the Midlands today, the film shows how history repeats itself in terms of persecution and escape. Whilst also illustrating, on a more positive note, the historical possibility of 'inclusion' and 'prosperity' within an alien community. A notion somewhat unpopular amongst current 'tabloid' reports yet played out symbolically through the lives of Abraham Isaac Herman and Kate McClusky.

Robyn's great grandmother (standing)

How do you hope the audience will respond?
Within Émigré I was keen to create a piece that would allow the audience to think beyond the tabloid representation of immigration.

I wanted a space where the viewer could think for a moment about how our 'collective' identity is intrinsically comprised of hundreds, if not thousands, of years of migration and immigration.

As a country our industries and our history, our experiences and our knowledge are all inextricably created out of a fusion of multiple cultures.

Were your family 'accepted' into the community on arrival in the 1800's?
Sadly when they docked in Manchester some of the family departed to America and Ireland and through the anglicisation of names their journeys have become lost in time.

The mother of Robyn as a child

What we do know is that Abraham Herman and Kate McClusky started a family and began to contribute to their new community.

They were slowly accepted despite the fact that all Abraham did was 'Doven', or pray, all day - a point that is mentioned in the film.

Over time they went on to have 8 children. Three of whom, Harry, David and Manny, started a Silversmith business within the Jewellery Quarter of Birmingham.

Is that business still around today?
Harman Brothers is still trading today and has contributed to the economy of Birmingham for more than half a century. The business has been sold on but the legacy of the immigrant's presence within the community still remains.

How important was Birmingham to the filming?
In terms of the crew they are all from the West Midlands apart from a strident Aussie!
And in terms of the story, it entirely revolves around the synagogues, homes and businesses of Birmingham. It's very much a local story within an international context.