If films reflect our ever-evolving societies and cultural attitudes, then filmmaker Rhonda Chan Soo’s upcoming short documentary on the Challengers volleyball team-which is made up of local and Venezuelan players-is sure to hit the mark when it makes its premiere in July.
Kimberly Wallace, HER Magazine
The 20-minute short film, titled The Challengers is an inspirational story of hope in the face of tremendous obstacles. It highlights the positives of inclusion and integration among refugees, migrants and the local population. Chan Soo, who is also the director of Bird’s Eye View Productions, sat with Her to discuss the project that has been consuming most of her time lately.
One of the main figures at the heart of the whole story of the Challengers volleyball team is Kanhai Sirjoo, who everyone calls “Coach Perry”. The retiree had a volleyball club that was dormant for a while, then one day, a few years ago, he had a fortuitous encounter with Jesús, a Venezuelan who has been living in Trinidad for some time. Although both men come from different backgrounds, they share something in common-a love for volleyball. Back in Venezuela, Jesús was a volleyball player. His encounter with Coach Perry sparked a revival of the Challengers volleyball team. There are a few Trinidadians on the team, however the majority of players are Venezuelan migrants, refugees and asylum seekers.
The Challengers play in domestic competition and true to their name-the players mean business. Volleyball happens to be very popular in Venezuela, many of the male and female players on the Challengers team played competitively at state and national levels back home in Venezuela. “The team is very good and they’re doing quite well, given their circumstances,” says the documentary filmmaker.
What makes the story of the Challengers so compelling is that its players have fled the severe socio-economic crisis in their homeland and are under enormous pressure in their adoptive home of T& T. Many of them are in vulnerable situations and are trying to provide for their families. Their daily struggles however have not dampened their competitive spirit. At the “One Volleyball” tournament last weekend, the team won all their games.
When the refugee agency UNHCR sent out the call for a film which focuses on the positive example of integration between Venezuelans and their host community, Chan Soo leapt at the opportunity. Her short film is set in Chaguanas which is one of the places in Trinidad with the highest population of refugees and asylum seekers from Venezuela, Syria and other countries where there are different crises.
“I had heard about the Challengers and did some research. I was very curious when I heard about a volleyball team where the members were mostly Venezuelan. I wanted to take a closer look and find out more about how it works,” she explains.
This film is not the first time Chan Soo has worked with the Venezuelan community. Her 2019 film Nearest Neighbours was an exploration of the experience of Venezuelan refugees and asylum seekers and their precarious legal status. The final scene in that film ended with the migrant registration in 2019. Her upcoming film, The Challengers , picks up three years into the future and will give audiences a look into what has changed, what hasn’t, the challenges of daily life and the support many have received from locals including Coach Perry.
The film also shows the disparity between the local and Venezuelan players. While work permit exemptions offer Venezuelan migrants the chance to work, they are not afforded access to public education and social services, says Chan Soo. Many Venezuelans are also the target of xenophobic attacks and are often harassed and objectified, she adds. Before being welcomed with open arms by Coach Perry, several players who sought out local volleyball clubs were shunned. Chan Soo hopes her film will combat and correct negative narratives.
“I hope that the film will dispel some of that xenophobia and create public awareness of the situation and the reasons why Venezuelans left their homes, and the reality of their circumstances.
Highlighting people who are in vulner- able situations is always tricky; you don’t want to cause them further harm.
As a filmmaker I have to figure out the best way to approach the material so that it could reach people and hopefully move them to have a better understanding of the Venezuelan community.”
Chan Soo’s journey into filmmaking wasn’t without its detours and u-turns. She was on her way to becoming an engineer until she discovered her love for art, philosophy and languages. She studied environmental science but felt trapped in the lab. What she was really interested in was how humans interacted with the environment. So she applied for a Master’s programme in Documentary Film and Cross Cultural Communication at Wake Forest University, North Carolina, USA. The young filmmaker enjoys the craft of filmmaking and storytelling, it’s an avenue for her to explore ideas and get to understand more about us as a people.
“Filmmaking allows me insight into people’s lives,” says Chan Soo. “As a young person who’s trying to find my place in the world, encountering different people is another source of inspiration. I learn a lot from the people I meet and I learn how they navigate the difficulties in their lives. Although many of the people I’ve filmed have basically started over from nothing, they have the tenacity to not give up, they do anything possible to take care of themselves and their families and they are warm, friendly and optimistic. I find that so inspiring.”
The Challengers will make its film debut in July but the UNHCR will premiere the trailer on June 20, World Refugee Day.
“I hope that after seeing the film, audiences will be moved to take action and be part of the solution,” says Chan Soo.
