When I was first introduced to the material, I was surprised to find myself captivated by what is mostly a “one-woman” story. Even though Alexander Maksik’s novel is a work of fiction, there was a truth in its heroine that felt utterly human and honest. It moved and haunted me in equal measure.

At the heart of Drift is Jacqueline, she is a refugee from Liberia, landing upon the beaches of Greece, putting up a daily fight to survive. But she is not your usual refugee. She comes from a position of privilege, having enjoyed the power and comforts of establishment and now fallen from grace. Jacqueline struggles to belong, to define her very own existence.

For Jacqueline, both her mind and body are constantly at drift. This slowly changes when she meets a tour guide Callie, a complete stranger. They save one another.

I have always been fascinated by the bonds and intimate connections struck between strangers and it reaffirms my belief that sometimes the people that can lift you up the most are not always the people who are closest to you.

This theme of complex bonds between strangers is actually one I keep coming back to in all my films. It never fails to move me, and constantly restores my faith in humanity.

Anthony Chen