Tears and reflections at "Blood Berries" screening in Khon Kaen

On 20 September 2025, more than 300 people gathered at the FA Theater of Khon Kaen University’s Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts for the screening of "Blood Berries | หมากไม้", a documentary capturing the harsh realities of Isaan workers who travel to Finland and Sweden to pick wild berries.

The event opened with a creative simulation: attendees “boarded a plane” to follow the workers’ journey to the Nordic forests. Outside the theater, an exhibition displayed personal items once used by migrant workers, including berry rakes, raincoats, and rubber boots. These objects, rooted in real experiences, offered visitors a tangible way to connect with the workers’ lives both abroad and upon their return, when many face debt, hardship, and even despair.

The powerful film moved many viewers to tears, as it laid bare the precarious conditions of transnational labour migration.

Following the screening, a panel discussion titled “The Path of Berries: Behind the Scenes of Blood Berries | หมากไม้” brought together a former berry picker, a migration scholar, and a member of the film’s production team. Together, they reflected on the vulnerabilities of Isaan workers and questioned the structural inequalities that lead to their exploitation.

One former berry picker shared:

“Poverty forces people to struggle, but we never imagined that going abroad for work would push so many into debt and conditions like slavery.”

The event drew a diverse audience, including local Thais and foreigners residing in and around Khon Kaen.

For those in other provinces wishing to see the documentary, announcements of future screenings will be made soon via The Isaan Record’s social media channels, in Thai HERE, in English HERE.

Stay tuned for future screenings in Europe!