Island of Hungry Ghosts

A remote island reveals the hidden cost of migration and exile
Located in the Indian Ocean, Christmas Island is home to one of the world’s most extraordinary natural phenomena, the annual migration of millions of land crabs from jungle to sea. Yet beneath this striking landscape lies a far more troubling reality. The island also hosts a high security Australian immigration detention centre, where asylum seekers are held indefinitely, cut off from the outside world.

Island of the Hungry Ghosts follows trauma therapist Poh Lin Lee, who works closely with detainees, supporting them as they navigate prolonged uncertainty, despair and emotional deterioration. Through her therapy sessions, the film offers an intimate perspective on the psychological toll of indefinite detention, revealing stories that resist simple narratives or explanations.

Alongside these human experiences, the film observes local rituals performed for wandering spirits known as hungry ghosts, believed to be souls unable to find rest. These spiritual traditions echo the emotional and existential displacement of the asylum seekers, creating a layered reflection on belonging, loss and memory.

Blending observational documentary with a poetic and reflective approach, the film contrasts the island’s natural beauty with its hidden systems of control. It situates personal stories within broader political and environmental contexts, exploring how migration, policy and geography intersect in one of the most isolated places on earth.