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THE TEALEAF READER – DRAMA 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. However, when her daughter starts falling behind at school, Mia has to face the shame she has been running away from.

THE TEALEAF READER

THE TEALEAF READER – DRAMA  14:14 minutes

Director/Producer:  Elli Iliades

Synopsis

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. However, when her daughter starts falling behind at school, Mia has to face the shame she has been running away from.

Caution

Need to be aware that some people in the discussion group might be illiterate or have insecure home lives.

Themes

  • Adult literacy: contributing factors and impact on the individual
  • Resilience of children and parents
  • The vulnerability of single parenting
  • Story-telling: oral and written traditions
  • Inherited disadvantage including homelessness

Discussion questions

  • How do you find the strength to be resilient in your life?
  • What is meant by the term ‘functional literacy’?
  • Is literacy still important, now we have voice recognition and reading software?
  • What barriers might people face day-to-day if they cannot read or write?
  • What factors might lead to illiteracy in adults living in Australia?
  • How do you talk to someone who might be feeling shame?
  • What are the advantages of telling stories?
  • How are Mia and Esme brave?

More Discussion Questions

What are some of the reasons mentioned for illiteracy in the film?

            a) Social, economic, and medical factors

            b) Lack of interest in education

            c) Poor teaching methods

            d) Language barriers

How does the film use landscapes and seascapes?

            a) To showcase the director’s love for nature

            b) To highlight Mia’s nomadic lifestyle

            c) To provide comic relief

            d) To create a fantasy world

Why did Mia’s grandmother keep her illiteracy hidden?

            a) Out of embarrassment

            b) To maintain her independence

            c) As a post-war migrant

            d) Due to medical reasons

What role does voice-over play in the film?

            a) It serves as a substitute for dialogue in vulnerable scenes.

            b) It provides comic relief.

            c) It serves as narration for scenic shots.

            d) It conveys Mia’s illiteracy.

Discuss the 26TEN Literacy Program and how it works to try to improve literacy skills in Tasmania. Discuss options to become a volunteer or enroll for classes. https://26ten.tas.gov.au/

Alice Webb

Alice Webb is a passionate advocate for diversity, inclusion, and social justice, bringing over 18 years of leadership experience to her role as CEO of A Fairer World. With a background in education, disability advocacy, and organisational leadership, Alice is dedicated to empowering individuals and organisations to create meaningful change. She holds a Master’s in Education and a Master’s in Business Administration, equipping her with both the strategic insight and educational expertise to drive impactful change. Alice is a skilled facilitator in unconscious bias training, diversity and inclusion programs, and workplace cultural change initiatives. Under her leadership, A Fairer World delivers innovative programs like the Hobart Human Library, where real-life storytellers share lived experiences of bias and discrimination to foster empathy and challenge assumptions. Committed to creating inclusive spaces, Alice believes that awareness leads to action and that education is the key to breaking down barriers. Her engaging training style, combined with real-world case studies and interactive discussions, makes her an inspiring leader in the fight for a fairer, more equitable society.