The Tea Leaf Reader
THE TEA LEAF READER - Drama
Director: ELLI ILIADES
Mia has always lived a nomadic lifestyle, never letting anyone too close. Moving around the north-west coast of Tasmania, she has become very good at avoiding her past. When her daughter starts falling behind at school, however, Mia has to face the shame she has been running away from.
Director statement:
The thought of telling a story of illiteracy as a drama felt very challenging to me. I couldn’t comprehend what it would be like to live without being able to read or write. I had always taken it for granted and it had become a part of my identity as a screenwriter and filmmaker. It is for this reason that creating the film, THE TEA LEAF READER, has been one of the most challenging yet rewarding journeys for me as a filmmaker.
The research I did was facilitated through the brilliant educators and coordinators at 26TEN who guided my understanding of the factors that affect illiteracy as well as its impact on people’s lives.
Their interest in the film stemmed from their own passion for literacy and I admired their work and its importance in the Tasmanian community.
The development of the character Mia was inspired by research and the memory of my grandmother, who I learnt later in life, was illiterate. But like most people who cannot read and write, it was something she always kept hidden. While she was a post war migrant, I found the barriers she faced growing up that led to her illiteracy, correlated with many Tasmanians in the present day who have also faced barriers in their lives, which contributed to them falling behind in their education.
Through creating the character Mia, I wanted the audience to be drawn into her mind and empathise with her. While Mia is illiterate, she is also insightful and resourceful. This is because many people I have known who are illiterate are skilled, hard working, and manage their own businesses. The reasons for illiteracy can be social, economic, or medical. These were important factors to consider when developing the character of Mia.
Landscapes and seascapes are a feature of the film and inspired the cinematography. Being close to nature was important in highlighting Mia’s intuitive and independent nature. The travelling shots of rivers and her car allude to her nomadic lifestyle and pursuit of freedom.
The use of voice over is integral to the story as the audience is transported into Mia’s rich inner world. Mia’s voice over replaces dialogue during scenes where she feels powerless or vulnerable. The voice over conveys Mia’s propensity for storytelling.
One of the literacy educators I met with said: “I hope your film removes the stigma surrounding illiteracy.” If this film can help us empathise with those people who cannot read and write, rather than judge them, it is a great start. Those people, like my grandmother, have nothing to feel ashamed of.
