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| Name |
Now Showing |
| Chinese |
|
| Directed by |
Ho-Cheung Pang |
| Produced by |
|
| Written by |
Ho-Cheung Pang
Chi-man Wan |
| Starring |
|
| Cinematography |
|
| Release date(s) |
2008 |
| Running time |
|
| Country |
Hong Kong |
| Language |
Cantonese |
<google>WIKI</google>
Sai-hung, a TV soap opera actor, fires his Thai maid because of his
suspicions that she has been gossiping about his private life with other
maids and even the paparazzi. In order to protect his family’s privacy, Saihung
and his wife San-san, a psychologist, decide to hire a maid directly
from the Philippines rather than going through local agencies. The new
maid will not have heard about Sai-hung before, and they hope that this
will be the end of his troubles.
Sai-hung hides his real profession from Sophie, the new maid, by
pretending to be an unemployed husband staying at home most of the day
while San-san is the family’s breadwinner. He can do this since his TV
working hours are flexible.
Yet, the couple soon gets used to their make-believe roles. Sai-hung
takes pleasure in playing the lazy husband's part while San-san, a former
drama student, finds her theatrical talents rekindled. They first had met
each other at drama school and married soon after, but life proved difficult
for the newlyweds, so she had to quit acting to study for something
practical. She became a psychologist, while her husband remained in
show business. Now they have regained their enthusiasm by putting on a
show at home everyday with Sophie as the only audience. They grow so
accustomed to their roles - a shameless husband and a hardworking wife
- that they even evaluate every day’s performance in their bedroom! They
find great fun in this double life.
But when San-san criticises Sai-hung's acting for going over the top, he is
displeased and arguments become frequent. With Sai-hung’s new TV
project in the Mainland, he also spends more time away from home. Sansan
continues her solo performance, telling Sophie how Sai-hung beats
her repeatedly and sharing the abortion she kept secret from Sai-hung.
These revelations strike a chord with Sophie, who has had similar
experiences in the Philippines, and the two become intimate friends.
Acting and reality have become muddled.
San-san, meanwhile, grows more frustrated that she was forced to give up
an acting career that she loved to become a psychologist when she is a
better performer than Sai-hung. “Why is it me who has to make the
sacrifice?” she begins to ask herself.
As Sai-hung becomes busier with his TV work in the
Mainland, San-san suspects that he is having an affair
with another actress in China. She wants to tell Sophie
about this, but is afraid to spoil their “make-believe”
friendship. San-san has no choice but to carry on with
her role. Little does San-san know that her stories have
resonated in Sophie’s heart. Sophie’s husband physically
abused her, spent all the money Sophie had earned
overseas and had an affair with another maid he hired
while Sophie was away. Not only does Sophie see her
reflection in San-san, but she also sees her own abusive
husband in Sai-hung. Since San-san has been such a
good employer, treating her as a soul-mate, Sophie
decides to reciprocate her friendship by liberating her
mistress’ body and soul - killing Sai-hung, this abusive,
unproductive and unfaithful husband...
[edit] Director's Statement
This is a tragic-comedy inspired by urban life in Hong
Kong where Filipino maids contribute so much to Hong
Kong's economic prosperity. Yet, these maids are only
servants or even slaves. We know little about them. We
do not treat them as equals, and deny their emotions.
Nobody is at fault in this tragedy. We all want some
personal space and respect. In the search for such goals,
though, we may let a "dirty bomb" go off, revealing many
secrets hidden in the darkest corner of our minds.
