Wan Chai Baby

Review Wan Chai Baby (Craig Addison)
Tess (Chanel Latorre) is a young girl from the Philippines, who comes to Hong Kong in search of work as a so-called amah (maid). She leaves her family and her little son back in the Philippines. Tess did not come to Hong Kong voluntarily but her poverty forces her to do so. At first, Tess works for Jenny (Ines Laimins), a western woman whose husband often leaves for business in mainland China. Jenny eventually introduces Tess to Hong Kong's glittering nightlife - they spend one night in Wan Chai. Jenny, however, dies tragically not at least due to the consumption of alcohol and drugs. Tess starts again to look for employment on Hong Kong's domestic helpers market. Finally, she is engaged by a Chinese family. Her Chinese boss mistreats Tess. Consequently, Tess terminates her contract. Terminating a contract in Hong Kong implies a monetary penalty to be paid to the Employment Agency for Maids. Tess starts cleaning public toilets and works full time in order to guarantee financial...

What goes on in Honk Kong doesn't necessarily stay in HK!
The story depicted in Wan Chai Baby is believable. I could relate to the sad plight of Tess and what some Philippine women go through to send money home. Chanel Latorre as Tess was sensational not only in looks but very convincing in the role of a downtrodden Filipina housemaid. The actress playing Jenny (Tess' employer) was OK considering what her part was but not nearly as convincing as Tess. Craig Addison's men were less accomplished save for Prince Charles and his "cameo" appearance during the televised coverage of the 1997 handover of Hong Kong to China. Danny, Tess' boyfriend, grew on me as the movie went on. While I didn't find much chemistry between Tess and Danny initially, this seemed to change as love between them seemed to start to bloom.

The film looks beautiful and captures the color and verve of Hong Kong very nicely. The photography was flawless. Impressive in every way. The depth of field is tremendous and very effective considering all the close-ups of...

Wan Chai Baby - Review
Wan Chai Baby, a drama with documentary features, focuses on the vexed issue of domestic workers from abroad, coming to Hong Kong to work as cheap labors. Craig Addison - producer, director and writer of this work - casted Chanel Latorre in the lead-role of the 24-year-old Tess from the Philippines who comes to Hong Kong in 1996 to work as a maid for Jenny starring Ines Laimins. Jenny, an American woman married to a most-of-the-time absent Chinese businessman, sees in Tess not only a help but also a friend substitute. Due to the absence of her husband, she feels lonely and neglected and drowns those feelings with drugs and sex with other men. One night, she takes Tess with her to the amusement district of Hong Kong, Wan Chai. In a nightclub, Jenny finds a man to satisfy her sexual needs and Tess meets Danny, played by Aaron Palermo, who gives her his number, urging her to call him some time.
Some days after their night trip, Jenny dies unexpectedly from an overdose. After Jenny's...

Click to Editorial Reviews