“100 Yards of Silk” – The legacy of a murder brings life
Wen Denaro - Directors statement
I am a Chinese woman with a dream. I have lived in Australia for 27 years however, I am still finding a sense of belonging or feeling at home.
It was purely by coincidence that I stumbled upon Sydney’s Camden Museum where I was surprised to discover a historical tale of blood, sweat and tears which describes the struggle of the first generation of Chinese in Australia.
Whilst deeply shocking, it revitalised my spirit! The self-identity that was hidden inside my heart has now awakened and I have found my duty and calling.
In a gesture of good will, on arrival the Chinese pioneers presented to the white landowners, a bolt of expensive Chinese silk rich with culture and tradition, together with gifts of sugar-ginger and spice, not unlike the gifts carried by the three wise men in stories of old.
These gifts are given in the hope of establishing good, reciprocating and lasting relationships.
My story tells of their perseverance and kindness through challenging times as Chinese market gardeners lived under the White Australia policy.
It was their goal to leave the mark of the Dragon’s descendants on a piece of swamp wasteland and to prove that it could be made fruitful through their labours ultimately creating a better life for themselves, their families and their new community.
Their footsteps have stirred the fire within me, so I long to share their struggles as a mark of pride and respect in memory of those who came to Australia before us.
This is believed to be the first film series produced in Australia that has this Chinese/Australian thread at its core, and is a story told from the Chinese philosophical point of view. The production will play an important part in bridging the gap between cultures at a time when that bridge is socially and economically vital.
This short film is commissioned by Camden Museum (Australia)
Watch Wen Denaro's short film on discovering roots through the Chinese market gardeners of Camden.
