The Receptionist (Chinese: 接線員) is a 2016 drama film directed by London-based Taiwanese director Jenny Lu, starring Teresa Daley and Chen Shiang-chyi. Inspired by a true story, the film follows the lives of Asian migrant women who had arrived in London in hopes of a better life but end up taking jobs in an illegal massage parlor to survive. The film premiered at the Golden Horse Film Festival on 20 November 2016.
Contents
Premise
Tina is a Taiwanese graduate living in London with her British student architect boyfriend. Struggling to find work during the 2008 financial crisis, Tina takes a job as a receptionist at an illegal massage parlour. As she slowly gets to know the women who work there, she is forced to question her values and morals.
Cast
Teresa Daley as Tina
Chen Shiang-chyi as Sasa
Amanda Fan as Mei
Josh Whitehouse as Frank
Sophie Gopsill as Lily
Teng Shuang as Anna
Production
The film received funding from Taiwan's Bureau of Audiovisual and Music Industry Development, as well as through a crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter.
Release
The film has been an official selection at the Edinburgh International Film Festival, the Raindance Film Festival, the Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival the Durban International Film Festival, the Milan and Salento Film Festivals and the 40th Asian American International Film Festival in New York City.
Soundtrack
Reception
Critical response
The Receptionist has received an 88% rating on review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes.
Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian lauded it as "a valuable, intelligent debut." Elizabeth Kerr in The Hollywood Reporter gave it a more mixed review.