Justin Cheung Ko-ming, eldest son of famous Hong Kong director Alfred Cheung Kin-ting, and six former fellow film students recently made a documentary movie about Hong Kong’s domestic workers, who make up one of the most vulnerable communities in the city.
Justin Cheung was quoted as saying in an Apple Daily report that he had planned this movie, titled Ya Ya, which means “caretaker” in Tagalog, for a long time as he wanted to make a tribute to his family’s Filipino maid, Tessie, who has faithfully served the family for 23 years.
Hong Kong’s domestic workers are hard-working but are not cared for or respected by the local people, he said. They also cannot stay with their own children but have to take care of other people’s kids, he said.
The 45-minute movie’s production cost was HK$150,000 (US$19,200), which Cheung raised through crowd-funding over the Internet.
Cheung graduated from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts last year, where he had spent four years studying film and television production.
He was praised by his father for having chosen the right topic, which could extend to Hong Kong’s economic changes and cultural development. Alfred Cheung also said the movie could be financially sustainable if some online broadcasters are interested in buying its copyrights.
can we say… domestic helper? just saying. thanks!
Thank you so much sir for your effort,the more we feel proud as a domestic helper in your country,though some people here look down on us because they felt this kind of job is the lowest kind,but i think it’s useless to give them attention,again thank you sir!
You are even better! Thanks to you!
God bless you Justin Cheung! Thank Gid there is someone like you who could see our vulnerabilities and exploitation. The abuses we are suffering. Yes there are a few locals who have hearts to treat other workers kindly but mostly treated us like slaves and nothing but just a very low domestic helpers- the exact words of one of my previous employers. As of now I am serving a slavedriver employer who never care what we eat and at a very late time and get sleep for 5 -6 hours only.
Wow…ur great sir i salute u ! More power
Looking forward to watching this movie� It’s about time to pay tribute to the hardworking yaya’s or caretakers abroad or locally.
Wow!Can’t wait to WATCH. Thank You so MUCH for making Yaya movie. #proudyayahere
What a great film……giving tribute to your yaya is amazing….you are gifted person……God bless you and your family circle…..
Wow this movie will be eye opening to every employer. I hope this can help to change the culture of the local people in hk and to have equal respect to the domestic helpers as human being.some employers treat thier helper as a slave.
Good luck and God bless.
Thanks to you too.there a Chinese THAT there heart are golden and kind your one of them our sincerely thanks from us a one whole body of PILIPINO HERE IN HK.must be nice movie.
nice one excellent!
wow! i’ll surely watch this! Am so blessed wd all my employers esp with my current boss and their family. God bless us all!
I was once a domestic helper in HK and it was not an easy life depends how your employer treat you.
Big thanks Justin Cheung .God bless you and your family ������im excited to watch this appre iation work of yours thums up �
thank u sir Justin Chueng I’m not the one but im honored… .we all know some employers threaten their maids as a slave not a HELPER ..seems they’d bought their helpers life ,anything they can ask to do or what ever they put into any place with out complaint… many us loose confidence in this this matters….
Wow its a beautiful news and movie as well. Surely people would love it � God bless to you Sir ����
I wish that this documentary film to be a successfull one.I’m just new working here in Hong Kong and I truly amazed and admired those who worked here for a very long time. It’s good to know that there are employers that truly appreciate their household helpers.Thank you!
Wow ,ilove drama, especially like this type, about Domestic Helper
its an amazing documentary film…… long live
English and Chinese translate too please