Results for: Social Inequality

Set against the backdrop of Taiwan’s transition to democracy and rapid economic development in the late 1980s, ‘House of the Hummingbird’ explores the struggle for a modest living amidst growing wealth inequality and moral dilemmas. The film follows 11-year-old Liao Jie and his impoverished father, Liao Tai-lai, as they yearn for a place of their own. Their dreams are shattered by rising house prices, and Liao Jie encounters a cunning landlord who embodies the ruthless pursuit of wealth at the expense of empathy. The film delves into the conflicting values of compassion and self-interest, questioning the implications of the changing social landscape and the pursuit of material success.

Single mum Michaela, 23, and her 8-year-old daughter are separated by almost 700km due to Australia’s rental crisis. Michaela has been unable to find a rental near job opportunities and schools, while sharehouses have rejected her multiple times because she has a child. The crisis is forcing families to make impossible choices between food and shelter, with data showing that only 0.6% of rentals are affordable for people on minimum wage. Single mothers are particularly vulnerable, with over half spending 50-70% of their income on rent, and many resorting to dangerous living conditions.