Experiencing Interruptions?

Pouch

Jing, an undocumented Chinese immigrant working for an illegal driving service in Sydney to support her daughter back home, begins to question her decision to stay in Australia after meeting an unexpected passenger.

  • Zixun Kino Ma
    Director
  • Zixun Kino Ma
    Writer
  • Zhouye Emma Zhu
    Producer
  • Hsuan-Ze(Oscar) Lin
    Director of Photography
  • Zhichen Yu
    Production Design
  • Tianchen Hong
    Sound Design
  • Jessica Foreman
    Original Music
  • Angie Gao
    Original Music
  • Anne Li
    Key Cast
    "Jing"
  • Yuqi Miao
    Key Cast
    "Wen"
  • Project Type:
    Short, Student
  • Runtime:
    22 minutes 21 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    June 14, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    6,000 AUD
  • Country of Origin:
    Australia
  • Country of Filming:
    Australia
  • Language:
    Mandarin Chinese
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    1.37:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes - The University of Sydney
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
Director Biography - Zixun Kino Ma

Zixun 'Kino' Ma is an emerging director and cinematographer based in Sydney. His upbringing in a remote Chinese city and subsequent education in Australia sparked his interest in marginalised communities and overlooked social issues. Kino's portfolio spans narrative short films, documentaries, and video art installations. His latest screen-based installation, Backfire, earned the Innovation Award at the Sydney College of the Arts 2023 Showcase.

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Director Statement

My first encounter with Australia was in elementary school when my dad brought me a kangaroo plush toy from a business trip. It was my favourite childhood toy. However, my parents later thought that boys playing with plush toys lacked “masculinity”. During a move, they threw away the kangaroo without my consent. As an adult, I happened to bring up this matter with my parents. Surprisingly, they apologised, realising they were wrong. This memory leads to the premise of the short film: being a parent is an identity, not an ability. They make mistakes, have regrets, and hesitate before decisions... they are no different from us.

Another issue addressed in Pouch is illegal immigration, a serious problem faced by Australian society. According to statistics from the Department of Home Affairs, there are approximately 70,000 unlawful non-citizens in Australia. Two-thirds of them have overstayed for more than two years, and one-third hold long-term jobs. However, when discussing this group, people often reduce them to mere numbers, rarely considering them as real, living individuals.

During the peak of the pandemic, dining in was prohibited, so I relied on delivery for a while. During this time, I encountered a Chinese delivery guy in his 30s who was on an expired tourist visa and couldn't speak English at all. "Earn as much as I can," he said. I often imagined his background—what kind of environment does he live in? Does he have children? Why did he come to Australia? I channelled these questions into Jing, the protagonist of Pouch, and comes up with a slow and simple narrative that stems from my thoughts and reflections.