Mama Illegal

In Moldova, one of Europe’s poorest nations, three women are smuggled out of the country to work illegally in Austria and Italy. The years apart put monumental strain on everyone involved. The women spend their time in foreign countries, separated from their husbands and children, working endlessly for strangers so they can send money home. The husbands and fathers must continually balance caring for their children and looking after their property, while the only time the kids can spend with their mothers is through online chats. Documenting several years, the film explores with unfiltered honesty issues of distance and the complications of coming home. Mama Illegal brings forth a question with no clear answers: How do we raise a family?

Director: Ed Moschitz
Writer: Ed Moschitz
Runtime: 95 min
Genre: Documentary
Language: Russian, German, Romanian
Subtitles: English
Production Year: 2011

The screening is part of the Austrian Documentary Days