T/C

Vision

Audio

00:00-00:05

101 East slate

MUSIC

00:06-00:27

Beauty shot - Faroe islands

Landscapes

Thai mother and daughter in national costume,

Asian woman in Faroese dress, pushing pram with husband

The remote, windswept Faroe islands are a world away from tropical south east Asia.

But hundreds of Asian women are moving to these sub-arctic islands, between Norway and Iceland, amid a shortage of local women. 

00:28-0034

Steve Chao on cam

I’m Steve Chao.  On this episode of 101 East we meet those travelling to the far reaches of the earth to look for love.

00:35-00:42

Spectacular drone shot from out at sea looking back at island of Vagar

MUSIC - (Vicki Hansen) “Looking for love in the Faroes”

00:43-01:03

Drone shot of lake/waterfall

Drone- Fog on hillside

Drone - landscape

AT FIRST SIGHT… THE FAROE ISLANDS MAKE YOUR HEART SKIP A BEAT.

SECLUDED IN THE NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN, ITS STRIKING MOUNTAINS ARE CLOAKED IN FOG… THERE’S NOT A TREE, OR A PERSON IN SIGHT.

… HARD TO IMAGINE FOR SOMEONE FROM THE PHILIPPINES.

01:04-01:11

Mary Joy Thomsen, From Philippines 

Master IV

I was looking “Oh, there’s no houses!”

[laughs] Where’s the houses? I was thinking.

01:12-01:21

Shots of Gasaludur village and waterfall

MANY HAVE NEVER HEARD ABOUT THIS TINY COUNTRY AT THE DOOR OF THE ARCTIC CIRCLE.. ESPECIALLY IN TROPICAL THAILAND.

01:22-01:28

Namfon Sawasdee, From Thailand

 Master IV CARD 11

When I told my friends I am going to be in the Faroe Islands, they say, ‘why do you go to Egypt?’

Aela- Egypt? [laughs]

01:29-01:56

Shots of Vesstmanna, sheep on hillside

Rain through the window

Scenic village, with dark sky

HOME TO ONLY 50 THOUSAND PEOPLE.. AND 80 THOUSAND SHEEP.. IT’S ALSO COLD …..AND WET

02:25:20 Mary Joy

It was raining, [laughs]  A lot! [makes a face]

AND IN DARKNESS FOR MORE THAN HALF THE YEAR.

02:10:23 Winter. [Shudders] Yeah. [smiles]

02:07:14 It feels very…gl.. gloomy.

01:59-02:06

Namfon Sawasdee

Everything is like, shock . Because we come from a big country, from a warm country. Here is so small. 17:54:07

02:07-02:29

Drone Shot over the cliff with the waterfall

BUT STAY AWHILE, AND SOMETHING HAPPENS…

IN A PLACE THAT SEEMS LIKE IT’S ON THE EDGE OF THE EARTH, WOMEN FROM AFAR ARE FINDING SOMETHING THEY YEARN FOR.

02:30-02:59

Aela hiking around island of Vagar

Shots of Asian women at concert in Tørshavn

I’VE COME TO FIND OUT WHAT IT IS.

HUNDREDS OF WOMEN FROM ASIA ARE MOVING TO THE FAROE ISLANDS… AND BEING FROM A WARM CLIMATE MYSELF, I CAN’T UNDERSTAND HOW THEY SURVIVE ONE LONG DARK WINTER, LET ALONE THE REST OF THEIR LIVES.

THEY MARRY FAROESE MEN, OFTEN WHO THEY KNOW LITTLE ABOUT… BUT DON’T ASSUME THEY AREN’T IN CHARGE OF THEIR DESTINIES.

TO FIND LOVE, YOU HAVE TO TAKE A RISK.

03:00-03:09

Hans Erland’s feet,

His eyes,  preparing to race

MUSIC - (Vicki Hansen) “Hans getting ready to race”

3:10-03:28

Coach with clapper

Hans Erland running

Mary Joy and Dan watching training

Hans Erland high jumping

UPSOT [Coach with clapper] GO!

HANS ERLAND IS THE LOCAL RUNNING STAR - THE PRIDE OF THE ISLANDS AND OF HIS PARENTS MARY JOY AND DAN THOMSEN.

MARY JOY WAS ONE OF THE FIRST FILIPINAS TO MOVE TO THE FAROE ISLANDS MORE THAN 15 YEARS AGO

03:29-03:32

Thomsens Wedding video [Dan saying vows after registrar]

Mary Joy, wear this ring, as a sign of my love and loyalty to you.

03:33-03:53

Wedding video

THEY MARRIED IN THE PHILIPPINES IN 2002.

DAN HAD WRITTEN HER LOVE LETTERS FOR 2 YEARS AFTER SEEING A PHOTO OF MARY JOY BABYSITTING HER COUSIN’S CHILDREN.

THE COUSIN HAD ALSO MARRIED A FAROESE  MAN.

03:54-04:13

Master Interview MARY JOY

Family photos:

Mary Joy pregnant, Wedding photos

Mary Joy: He asked my address and he started writing to me.

At first it was an introduction of himself. That he is single [ha ha] that he has work and he owns a house and all that. Trying to sell himself! [laughs]

04:14-04:26

Back to the running track- Thomsens watching their son on the high jump

MJ:  One day he decided to come to Philippines and .. yeah. [pause] He proposed immediately…

Aela: And what did you think when you first saw him?

04:27-04:30

MJ in vision

MJ: [shrugs] He’s ok. It’s the same man as in the picture! [laughs]

04:31- 04:36

Wedding video continued

UPSOT- Regstrar: I pronounce you…

10 DAYS AFTER ARRIVING IN THE PHILIPPINES, THEY WERE HUSBAND AND WIFE.

04:37-04:53

Wedding video

Subtitle registrar

Registrar: Alright. Dan- kiss the bride!

[clapping] [Very awkward kiss]

Registrar: That is not counted!

[lots of laughter]

04:54-04:50

MARY JOY MASTER IV in vision

I was twenty! Yeah. But it’s ok. [smiles]

05:00-05:14

Wedding video

[second, more awkward kiss]

Registrar: Okay!

[Mary Joy pulls away. Dan wipes lips. Mary Joy wipes his lips]

Registrar: No! Do not wipe it!

[giggling]

05:15-05:24

Beauty shots of Streymoy island

MUSIC - (Vicki Hansen) “Boat trip”

05:25-05:36

Car pulls up at boat shed

Getting out of the car  [Mary Joy hugs Aela] 

FROM BARELY KNOWING EACH OTHER, TO TODAY.. THEY’VE COME A LONG WAY.

Aela: Hi guys, how you doing? What a beautiful place, this is where your boat is kept? 

05:37-05:49

Shots of the children putting on life jackets

Dan helps Aela onto the boat

ALONG WITH THEIR ATHLETIC SON HANS ERLAND, THEY HAVE TWO OTHER CHILDREN LEA, WHO IS 12 AND DANIEL,  8.

I’M TAGGING ALONG ON THIS EXCURSION, WHILE THE BOYS TRY TO CATCH LUNCH. 

05:50-05:51

Mary Joy and Lea waving boat goodbye

UPSOT: Aela: Ta, Ciao. Bye!

05:52-06:09

Drone shots of boat

MUSIC - Vicki track #4

06:10-06:15

POV from boat

UPSOT

Aela [to Hans Erland]- Which one is your house? Ah, there’s your house.

06:16-06:22

Aerials - boat shots, scenery

MUSIC - Vicki track #3

06:23-06:36

Dan helping boys to fish

DAN CAN TRACE HIS ANCESTRY IN THE FAROE ISLANDS BACK TO 1850.

THEY FISHED IN THESE WATERS AND THEY WORKED THE LAND.

LIKE MOST HERE, HE’S A MAN OF FEW WORDS.

06:37-06:49

C/U of Dan pulling in line

Wide of boat

Aela and Dan talking on the boat

Dan [subtitle- hard to understand]

Aela- What made you want to go all the way to the Philippines to find Mary Joy?

Dan- I was 30 years old, and I should have a wife and children, that’s why.

06:50-07:02

Aela and Dan in vision on boat

C/U of Dan

AELA- What did you say in that first letter?

Dan- Oh… [laugh] it’s a secret.

Aela- It’s a secret? You don’t want to tell me! [laughs]

Aela- Well, you must’ve said something right. She came back here to the Faroe islands with you.

07:03-07:32

Over the shoulder, Aela looking at Dan

c/u of Daniel and Hans Erland fishing

c/u of fishing rod

Dan:

I think so. I said something right. Because… yah… because now it is like it is and… [sighs].

[Awkward pause]

Aela- [to boys fishing] Nothing?

THE FISH ARENT’ BITING TODAY… AND WHEN IT COMES TO MY QUESTIONS, NEITHER IS DAN.

Aela- You Faroese men don’t give up. [laughs]

Dan- No, we are very patient.

07:33-07:45

Boat heading back in

MUSIC - Audio Network (ANW1822_40_Love-2)

UPSOT - Boat engine noise

07:46-07:57

Aela and family milling around in the kitchen

 MJ in the kitchen preparing lunch at the stove

DESPITE OUR BEST EFFORTS AT FISHING, WE RETURN HOME EMPTY HANDED.

BUT LUCKILY, MARY JOY HAD DEFROSTED THE LAST CATCH, JUST IN CASE.

07:58-08:09

MJ stirring the pot with sauce in it

UPSOT

Aela: What’s in the sauce?

MJ- It’s Dan’s sauce

Aela- Oh, it’s not yours, it’s Dan’s secret sauce!

AND THAT’S NOT ALL THEY’VE BEEN COOKING UP.

08:10-08:16

Aela and MJ at stove

UPSOT

Aela: And you’re pregnant?

Mary Joy: Yeah

Aela- You’re expecting. Wow. Number 4?

Mary Joy- In January yeah.

08:17-08:35

MJ getting food out of the oven, passes a dish to Aela to put on the table

Subtitle MJ speaking in Faroese

UPSOT- Aela - Can I help with anything?

Mary Joy- Oh, yah

Aela- It’s not so hot. Ok. Thankyou

Aela- Wow, It looks great

Mary Joy: Hans Erland, here [take this] Tak [thanks]

08:36-08:47

Mary Joy looking at the table, handing things to people

Everyone sitting down

MARY JOY IS CLEARLY AT HOME IN THE FAROE ISLANDS.

SHE SPEAKS FLUENT FAROESE, WENT TO UNIVERSITY HERE AND WORKS AS A SUPERVISOR AT AN AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN AND TEENAGERS.                                                             

08:48-09:16

All sitting at the table eating together

Inspirational quotes on the walls

C/u Aela asking questions

Aela- How hard is the language?

MJ- It’s very hard. I had to borrow dictionaries from different languages and it’s not all the time that google translate is working, it is not.

Aela- You’re very persistent, well done.

MJ- Three children and I work, also, sometimes.

A- Wow. And Dan, where do you work?

09:17-09:45

MJ and Dan sitting together at table, over Aela’s shoulder,

C/U of food

WHEN THEY MET- DAN WORKED AT SEA ON A FISHING BOAT.

HIS TRIP TO THE PHILIPPINES TO MEET MARY JOY WAS HIS FIRST TO ASIA.

Dan- Oh, it was like an adventure. It was amazing. Yeah yeah. {awkwardly puts arm around her- she moves away}

NOW HE WORKS FOR THE FAROE ISLANDS ELECTRICITY COMPANY SO THAT HE CAN BE WITH THE FAMILY AT HOME.

UPSOT

Aela: The cod is very good.

MJ- Oh Thank you.

09:46-10:13

MASTER INTERVIEW MARY JOY

Aela reversal

MJ in vision from Master IV

MARY JOY:

I’m very lucky to have Dan because he helps a lot at home., Otherwise I would not be here.

AELA: What’s the main difference between Filipino men and Faroese men?

MARY JOY: Filipino men, they are more patriarchal. The father is the head of the family, the father decides and all. But here, it’s more equality.  We both decide.

10:14-10:35

MJ and Aela- interview cutaways

C/U of MJ’s wedding ring

MJ in vision

MARY JOY ALSO WANTED MORE OPPORTUNITIES THAN THE PHILIPPINES COULD OFFER HER.

Aela- Is your life now, what you imagined it would be? Or has it turned out different?

MJ- Yes! All as I planned. [Laughs} Yes… [leave shot to linger] Yeah.

10:36-10:38

MUSIC-  Track: “Feel So Alone” (Audio Network ANW 1798/6)

10:39-10:42

Fish Factory conveyor belt

UPSOT Lyrics: “Welcome to my lonely nighmare, my baby is gone.”

10:43-10:50

Asian women at work in fish factory

WOMEN LIKE MARY JOY FULFIL A BIG NEED ON THE FAROE ISLANDS..

OVER THE LAST TWO DECADES, YOUNG WOMEN HAVE BEEN LEAVING IN DROVES.

10:51-10:55

20:05:00 Rowing training **all young boys** good shot of them

UPSOT-  Coach counting the rowers

10:56-11:17

Rowers

Drone shot of rowers

Shots of men on the ships

Shot of guy painting grass roofed house

LIMITED OPPORTUNITIES AND A LIMITED GENE POOL HAVE MEANT THAT THEY HAVE GONE ABROAD, PREFERRING MORE CHOICE IN LIFE AND LOVE.

THERE ARE NOW 1500 FEWER WOMEN THAN MEN BETWEEN THE AGES OF 18 AND 60.

SO HOW DO THE MEN FEEL ABOUT IT? 

11:18-11:19

Aela walking past guy painting house

MUSIC UP- “She’s Gone! ….”

11:20

UPSOT

Aela: Hi

11:21-11:26

Guy waves back

MUSIC:

“She’s so far gone… yeah, she’s gone”

11:27-11:29

Finnur standing with a microphone

Kenneth the cameraman doing Finnur’s hair

“Tak” [Thanks] [clears throat]

11:30-11:35

FINNUR KOBA IS MY GUIDE TO THE FAROESE MALE MIND.. 

11:36-11:48

Finnur doing a  piece to camera in Faroese, subtitled

C/U of Finnur, smiling

[Subtitle Faroese}

Finnur [to camera:]

It's here that the housing prices have gone through the roof.

The question is, How high?

[To the cameraman, in Faroese] That one hit the bull’s eye!

Voice: The last one was really good

11:49- 11:57

Finnur being filmed walking [viewfinder POV]

Starting an interview

A JOURNALIST -- AND A LOCAL ROCK STAR… FINNUR’S ONE OF THE MOST ELIGIBLE BACHELORS ON THE ISLANDS.

11:58-12:05

Finnur talking to Aela

UPSOT Finnur: Sky high...

HE SAYS HE’S NOT WORRIED ABOUT A SHORTAGE OF WOMEN… HE’S NOT LOOKING FOR LOVE - BUT HE WOULDN’T MIND A ‘FEMALE’ TOUCH  

12:06-12:27

Finnur and Aela standing on the street outside the grass houses.

F- I got a perfect bachelor pad for almost the same price as this one.

A- Really?

F- Much better. Much more posh. 

F- It’s a bit batchelory.. I need someone to… you know… 

A- Decorate for you?

F- Decorate and [motions sweeping]

A- Decorate or sweep for you?

F- Sweep and decorate. 

A- I’m not really the sweeping kind. 

F- No? Ok.

[Aela laughs]

12:28-12:42

Driving shot through fog with drone .. birds flying.

MUSIC - (Vicki Hansen) “Epic Drive”

12:43-13:08

Aela driving

Car tracking shots

C/U of Aela through rear vision mirror

Drone shots following car  with birds

LEAVING MY BROOM BEHIND, I TAKE UP FINNUR’S OFFER TO VISIT HIS BACHELOR PAD…

IT’S A GLORIOUS EVENING DRIVE.

DURING SUMMER IN THE FAROE ISLANDS, DAYLIGHT STRETCHES FOR 20 HOURS, AND WHEN THE FOG LIFTS, THE SCENERY IS BREATHTAKING.

MUSIC (Vicki Hansen) “Epic Drive”

13:09-13:18

Exterior of Finnur’s house, Aela walking up the driveway

I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING MORE ABOUT WHAT THE MODERN FAROESE MAN LOOKS FOR IN AN IDEAL WOMAN.

13:19-13:25

Aela turning up at Finnur’s door

Walking inside

Wide shot of interior of house 

Aela [knocking]

Finnur: Yah!

 Hello, welcome!

Aela- How are you doing? This is the batchelor pad?

Finnur- This is the bachelor pad

13:26-13:33

Aela entering from interior

Shots of the view over the village of Vestmanna

FINNUR SAYS HE HAS NOT TRIED TO FIND A WOMAN FROM ASIA, BUT HE KNOWS MANY MEN WHO HAVE.

UPSOT

A- Nice view

13:34-13:48

View over village of Vestmanna

Finnur Koba, Journalist

C/U of him standing at kitchen bench

Finnur: If the women aren’t there, it’s difficult, yeah. You can’t invent a woman. You have to find women elsewhere. And the easiest way is the Asian countries, I think.

13:49-13:52

Finnur showing Aela the terrace

Finnur UPSOT

“Yes, welcome to my terrace”

13:53-13:57

Shot through the window 

Wide shot of terrace, both sitting down

HE DESCRIBES A TREND AMONG MEN HIS AGE TO LOOK FOR A MATCH ONLINE.

13:58-14:22

Wide shot

Through the window shot

C/U of Finnur

Finnur:

I have a friend who got his heart broken by a Faroese woman, and he’s just said: ‘I have had enough, So he went on the Internet, an agency, foreign women from the Philippines, and he found himself a Philippine girl, and half... six months later she was in Faroe Islands. And they live happily.

14:23-14:28

She doesn’t speak Faroese so I haven’t talked to her, but he’s found love and it’s more simple, a simple life.

14:29-14:31

Reversal - Aela

Aela- What do you mean by the simple life?

14:32-14:58

Finnur in vision

Finnur- You know where a life where … a bit more old fashioned, where there’s … um.. the man role, where the man works, he works, and he makes all the money. And she is at home making him dinner and breakfast and cleaning.”

14:59-15:01

Aela reversals

Aela: Traditional roles?

Finnur: Traditional roles, exactly.

15:02-15:24

Cutaways through the window

C/U of Finnur talking over Aela’s shoulder

Aela : What do you think about the women coming here how do you think they see themselves in the society here?

Finnur: You know it’s very difficult, because, especially the women from Asia, they don’t really have a voice here in the Faroe Islands. We don’t hear  what they think that much, we don’t hear them in the media.

15:25-15:45

POV over Aela’s shoulder

Aela: “But you’re the media.”

Finnur: “Yeah”

Aela: “Why don’t you do stories on them?”

Finnur: “We try, we really try”

Aela: “Yeah?”

Finnur: “And also, it’s very easy for the media to, you know, just go after the bad stories, you know. The problems, but there are really many love stories out there. There really are.”

15:46-15:55

Mary Joy standing outside a coffee shop waiting for friends

MUSIC- [Vicki Hansen] “Mary Joy Meets her friends” 

15:56-16:03

Group of Filipina’s walking in the rain

Friends greet Mary Joy, they hug etc

TO FIND OUT IF THAT’S TRUE, I’M MEETING SOME OF THE FAROE ISLANDS NEW FEMALE RESIDENTS.

MARY JOY WAS ONE OF ONLY A FEW FOREIGNERS WHEN SHE ARRIVED.

TODAY, THERE ARE NEARLY 300 WOMEN FROM ASIA LIVING HERE.

UPSOT Grace- Hey, how are you darling?

Hi, hi….

16:04-16:21

Inside cafe haus, Aela stands up to greet the women

“Men Wanted” sign

Wide shot of table with everyone sitting down

Mid shot of women talking

Aela- Hi how are you? I’m Aela, nice to meet you… Gilda, Hi Gilda

MARY JOY INTRODUCES ME TO HER CIRCLE… AND I LEARN THAT AS WELL AS HER COUSIN, HER AUNT AND HER MOTHER HAVE ALSO MARRIED FAROESE MEN SINCE SHE MOVED HERE.

16:22-16:24

Aela and Leonarda sitting together

Cutaway of other women

Aela: So this is your mother? Fantastic.

16:25-16:43

16:44-17:14

Aela and Leonarda

Cutaway of Shirley

C/U of Gilda

Aela -Do you like living here?

Leonarda: Yes, it is very nice to stay here. Peaceful...

Aela- So it’s like a family reunion?

 [nods]

THE MOST COMMON WAY FOR WOMEN TO MEET A FAROESE MAN, I DISCOVER, ISN’T THROUGH THE INTERNET, BUT THROUGH OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS.

Gilda: We are sisters [motions to Shirley]

Aela: You are sisters. Are you married to brothers? [laughs]

Gilda: No. Unfortunately her husband has no brother!

I came here first to visit her. And [giggle] you know.. They have a friend… we just talked and it all started like that.

17:15-17:23

Cutaway of Daisy

High shots of the table

Cutaways of Grace

OFTEN, THE WOMEN MOVING TO THE FAROES ARE NOT YOUNG BRIDES, BUT WOMEN WHO ARE MARRYING A SECOND TIME AND STARTING AFRESH.

17:24-17:36

Aela talking to Grace

Aela: So you brought your children here. Do they like it?

Yeah, they like it.

they meet a lot of kids now they are more happy and happy. My girl, she don’t want to go to Philippines now anymore.

17:37-17:44

Cutaways of Grace

I’M TOUCHED BY THE HONESTY OF GRACE, WHO CAME HERE 6 YEARS AGO TO BEGIN A NEW LIFE WITH HER FAROESE HUSBAND.

17:45-18:08

Cutaways of Leonarda and Shirley

C/U of Grace

He’s a... nice guy. And always asking me, ‘how do you like me?’ And then I answer him, ‘No choice!’ [laughter]

Grace: Six years is not yet enough to know each other. More and more, there is a chance. We don’t know what will happen tomorrow, right?

18:09-18:19

Cutaway through partition

c/U of Grace

Aela- What about love?

Grace: Oh, love? Love is uh… what is love? Love is fantastic.  Love is sometimes sacrifice..

18:20-18:34

Wide shot of women at table, Gilda speaking

C/U of Daisy eating cake

C/U of Shirley

THESE WOMEN RELY ON EACH OTHER FOR MORAL SUPPORT, FRIENDSHIP AND HELP NAVIGATING THEIR NEW COUNTRY.

IT’S NOT ALWAYS EASY, BUT THEY ARE HAPPY HERE AND FEEL IT’S A GOOD PLACE TO RAISE THEIR CHILDREN

18:35-18:54

“Men wanted” article on the wall

C/U of Grace

Grace: Here we are more safe. … Philippines.. is more dangerous. Especially at the night time ..

We are safe here

Aela- And no one locks the doors!

All- No! No one. The car is open, No one stole! It’s ok.

C/U of Aela

MUSIC UP (Vicki Hansen) “Namfon”

18:55-19:02

C/U of Aela

Grace:  I think Faroe Islands is the last paradise on this earth

Aela- The last paradise?

Grace: Last paradise. Very, very nice.

19:03-19:06

Beauty shots _ Høsvik

MUSIC - (Vicki Hansen) “Namfon”

19:07-19:09

Hosvik waterfall

BUT SOMETIMES THERE CAN BE TROUBLE IN PARADISE...

19:10-19:15

MUSIC (Vicki Hansen) “Namfon”

19:16-

19:20

Aela and Namfon walking

IN THE VILLAGE OF HOSVIK, I MEET NAMFON SAWASDEE FROM THAILAND.

19:21-19:29

UPSOT

Namfon: For me,  my experience with my ex is not easy.

19:30-19:37

Wide shot of Aela and Namfon walking

TEN YEARS AGO, SHE MET A FAROESE MAN THROUGH A FRIEND IN THAILAND.

SHE  MOVED HERE AND THEY MARRIED.

19:38-20:06

Aela and Namfon walking across the bridge

Wide shot of boat sheds

A- Did you think it was going to be like a fairy tale?

N- I was thinking like before I move here, I was thinking that it should be like a dream or something… because I watch TV  so much, television. It started with that picture, image, it’s going to be like, wow! But when I am here, everything is like: it’s a very hard time.

20:07-20:15

Aela and Namfon walk to a table and sit down

NAMFON IS CAREFUL WHAT SHE SAYS..

UPSOT aela: sit here?

HER RELATIONSHIP ENDED BADLY AND THE FAROE ISLANDS IS A SMALL PLACE.

20:16-20:24

Namfon Master IV

My love (did) not work out. Me and my man, it did not work out about 4 years ago. So we divorced.

20:25-20:34

Dolly shot into Namfon’s lounge room

BUT INSTEAD OF GOING BACK TO THAILAND, NAMFON DECIDED TO STAY AND BUILD A NEW LIFE ON HER OWN.

20:35-20:45

Namfon Master IV

Stand up for myself. Be strong for myself.  I bought a house here, my car. I have a good job and I have  beautiful kids.

20:46-21:05

C/U of Natasja 

C/U of Joseph

Girls playing- flying like planes

HER DAUGHTER NATASJA IS 4 AND HER SON, JOSEPH  IS 9.

UPSOT 

[in Thai] “One ... two ... three!”

NAMFON’S MOTHER, SISTER AND NIECE ARE VISITING FOR THE SUMMER HOLIDAYS.

IT’S THE FIRST TIME SHE’S HAD THEM HERE, IN HER NEW HOME. 

UPSOT  “yay!”

21:06-21:36

Namfon watching kids play, grandma laughing

Kids laughing

Namfon in vision

I remember that the police they call me and say, ‘now you can get a visa and stay here’.

Then I go to the bank and ask, ‘Can you open an account for me, I want to work’

And I ask them where the fish company is. They told me the fish company is that way, that way. And then I just go out and start work the way they told me.

A: They give you a job?

N- They give me a job.

A-  And how did you feel?

N: So nice…!

21:37-21:47

Namfon playing planes with Natasja

SHE’S WORKED HER WAY UP- LEFT THE FISH FACTORY AND IS NOW  A MANAGER AT A LOCAL FOOD BUSINESS.

LIFE FINALLY FEELS GOOD AGAIN.

21:48-22:03

Namfon playing with Natashja

Joseph covering eyes

 I can say, this is my home. Because every day I am more happy. I have beautiful kids, and a good job and I can manage myself, take care of myself.

22:04-22:07

Cutaway of table

AELA: What would you tell a woman who’s thinking of moving to the Faroe islands?

22:08-22:36

Namfon Master IV

Cutaway of Aela

Namfon: I want to tell them, this country is very beautiful. People are friendly. But if you want to find love,  it’s a good idea to spend time and learn about each other longer. Then you can decide. If everything does not work out, you have to be a strong woman. It’s a very hard time for you to start everything alone. 

22:37-22:41

MUSIC - (Vicki Hansen) “Ordinary Life”

22:42-22:45

Tilt down to Grandpa and uncle eating whale

C/U of knife cutting blubber 

THE FAROE ISLANDS IS A PLACE WHERE THE COURSE OF LIFE HAS ALWAYS BEEN CERTAIN.

22:46-23:07

C/Us of Grandpa eating whale

C/Us of radio

C/Us of cutting meat

Cutaway out the window

[Radio theme] "We will now read death notices: Hanna av Húsabrúgv, Tórshavn, descending from Norðragøta, died at the Main Hospital Tuesday the 25th of July, 87 years old.

23:08-23:15

Dolly shot across uncle and grandpa

A PLACE WHERE EACH GENERATION MARKED THE PASSING OF THE ONE BEFORE…

23:16-23:19

Wide shot of festival

NATSOT Band playing

23:20-23:34

GVs of people in national dress, streaming into town

Attractive couple in Faorese dress

Offical looking procession with man on horseback

A PLACE WHERE TRADITION MATTERS.

LIKE THE NATIONAL FESTIVAL OLAVSØKA, WHICH BRINGS EVERYONE OUT INTO THE STREETS TO CELEBRATE THE LONG, BRIGHT SUMMER NIGHTS.

23:35-23:39

 Brass band

NATSOT - brass band

23:40-23:48

Rowing competition

Various shots of boats

Spectators looking on

Boats racing to finish line

UPSOT Rowers, cheering

AS THEY HAVE FOR GENERATIONS, THE ROWERS DO BATTLE AT SEA

UPSOT- Cheering

NATSOUND- Finishing Gun sound

23:49-23:55

End of race, rowers celebrate

UPSOT- [Faroese, indistinguishable]

UPSOT- Cheering

23:56-24:10

Hans Erland rounding the corner

Hans Erland crossing finish line

Cutaway of Leonarda and her husband, Magnus. Mary Joy standing looking on

AND THE RUNNERS COMPETE ON THE LAND.

NATSOUND - Clapping

BUT TAKE A LOOK AT THE WINNER OF THE UNDER 17S.

IT’S HANS ERLAND THOMSEN, A SIGN THAT THINGS ARE CHANGING ON THE FAROE ISLANDS.

24:11-24:12

Hans Erland running up to podium

Upsot- CLAPPING

24:13-24:20

Hans Erland being presented withhis winning medal

Leonarda, Magnus, Mary Joy and Dan watching on

IN THIS SMALL, CONFIDENT COUNTRY, DISAGREEMENTS ABOUT ALLOWING FOREIGNERS IN, ARE STRIKINGLY ABSENT.

24:21-24:24

MUSIC- Vicki Hansen “Ordinary Life 2”

24:25-24:46

Grace walking along with her son

Gilda and husband together drinking coffee

Namfon picking up Natasja, who’s crying

Pregnant woman with husband in Faroese dress, with grandma holding their other kid

Group of Filipinas

IN MARRYING A FAROE ISLANDER, WOMEN FROM ASIA GET MORE THAN A HUSBAND OR A FAMILY... THEY BECOME PART OF A TRIBE.

PERHAPS THAT’S WHY THEY STAY, EVEN IF THINGS GO WRONG.

AGAINST THE ODDS, IN THE MOST UNLIKELY DESTINATION.. THEY FIND  A PLACE IN THEIR HEARTS THEY CALL HOME

24:47-24:58

Ending shot - Faroese beauty?

MUSIC- Vicki Hansen “Ordinary Life 2”

25:00

AJE SLATE

<<ENDS>>