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From Harling Point

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Traditional Chinese belief says that the soul of a person who dies in a foreign place wanders lost until their bones are returned home. For Chinese pioneers who died in Canada, Victoria's Chinese Cemetery at Harling Point was a temporary resting place until their bones could be returned home. In this beautifully expressive film, director Ling Chiu traces the rich history of the Vancouver Island cemetery, from controversy and neglect, to its revival as a National Historic Site. Archival materials are delicately woven with interviews with two women from different generations. While the cemetery's story reflects how early migrants saw China as home, the vibrant voices of Edna Chow and Charlayne Thornton-Joe chart the emergence of a contemporary Chinese Canadian identity. From the experiences of Chinese pioneers in an unwelcoming land to the efforts of subsequent generations to establish roots in Canada, From Harling Point is an eloquent exploration of tradition, belonging and the notion of home. Told by those closest to it, the story of Harling Point is a metaphor for Canada, a country still working on making a home for all who live within its borders.

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General Note

BIPOC filmmaker.
Agency - English program:.Pacific Centre.

Credit Note

Director, Ling Chiu ; producer, Selwyn Jacob ; editor, Janice Brown ; story consultant, Don White ; cinematography, Ian Kerr ; composer, Anna Hostman ; sound supervisor, Gael MacLean ; location sound, Peter Wong ; historical consultant, David C.Y. Lai ; consultant, Michelle Bjornson, Don White ; researcher, Grace Salez ; re-recording mixer, Mark Hensley ; executive producer, Graydon McCrea, Svend-Erik Eriksen, Rina Fraticelli.

Performer Note

Narrator, Laara Ong ; participant, Jim Wong-Chu, Charlayne Thornton-Joe, Edna Chow, David C.Y. Lai, Geraldine Peet, Paul Chan.

Time of Event Note

Recorded 2003.

Summary

Traditional Chinese belief says that the soul of a person who dies in a foreign place wanders lost until their bones are returned home. For Chinese pioneers who died in Canada, Victoria's Chinese Cemetery at Harling Point was a temporary resting place until their bones could be returned home. In this beautifully expressive film, director Ling Chiu traces the rich history of the Vancouver Island cemetery, from controversy and neglect, to its revival as a National Historic Site. Archival materials are delicately woven with interviews with two women from different generations. While the cemetery's story reflects how early migrants saw China as home, the vibrant voices of Edna Chow and Charlayne Thornton-Joe chart the emergence of a contemporary Chinese Canadian identity. From the experiences of Chinese pioneers in an unwelcoming land to the efforts of subsequent generations to establish roots in Canada, From Harling Point is an eloquent exploration of tradition, belonging and the notion of home. Told by those closest to it, the story of Harling Point is a metaphor for Canada, a country still working on making a home for all who live within its borders.

System Det Note

Mode of access: World Wide Web.

Awards Note

Award for Most Inspirational Short Film - given by the Youth Jury (ages 13+), 2004

Source of Description Note (R)

Description based on online resource; title from title screen (National Film Board of Canada, viewed 2023-08-10).