TIDES OF RESILIENCE
by Vaishali Odedra
The research explores strategies for preserving indigenous culture and identity on islands, examining the development of alternative economic models beyond tourism, while integrating climate adaptation measures and gender empowerment initiatives.
Film Logline: When a mysterious shipwreck foreshadows disaster, a young Andaman islander—scarred by her mother’s oppression—must unite ancient wisdom with modern technology to rebuild her ravaged community. In a world reshaped by relentless natural fury, she embarks on a transformative journey of healing and empowerment.
The research project explores the luxury cruise industry’s impact on marginalised communities, focusing on issues such as pollution, overtourism, and economic dependency. It culminates in a speculative spatial film that envisions a resilient future for the Andaman Islands in the wake of a climate catastrophe. The narrative follows a tsunami survivor who lost everything—including her home, land, and personal identity—and who embarks on a journey marked by memories of gender oppression and the wisdom of indigenous traditions. Her story intertwines with a community effort to rebuild sustainable lives through the Habitation Shipscape Program.
This rehabilitation initiative is launched with a new policy to repurpose decommissioned cruise ships as floating shelters for humans & more than humans, schools, clinics, and community hubs for climate refugees. The project set in year 2032 leverages renewable energy, integrates traditional craftsmanship with modern technology, and fosters local job creation. Complementary to these efforts is a cultural revitalisation strategy that promotes community-centric agriculture, heritage storytelling, environmental reconnection, and the digital empowerment of traditional handicrafts, ultimately paving the way for economic recovery and gender empowerment.