Ghosts (2006)

100% of critics liked it
(18 reviews)
80% of users liked it
(1,325 ratings)

Longtime documentary director Nick Broomfield (Kurt & Courtney, Aileen Wuornos: The Selling of a Serial Killer) eschews the format with which filmgoers generally associate him to tell this affecting tale of Chinese émigrés looking to earn a healthy, albeit illegal, living in the U.K. Ai Qin is a… More Longtime documentary director Nick Broomfield (Kurt & Courtney, Aileen Wuornos: The Selling of a Serial Killer) eschews the format with which filmgoers generally associate him to tell this affecting tale of Chinese émigrés looking to earn a healthy, albeit illegal, living in the U.K. Ai Qin is a desperate mother from Fujian who is willing to pay the Snakehead gang 25,000 dollars to smuggle her into the U.K. Once there, Ai Qin plans to send the majority of the money back to China order to support her son and family. But life in the U.K. isn't easy, even for the hardest-working Chinese immigrant. Not only does Ai Qin live with 15 other immigrants in a suburban, two-bedroom house, but with three million other migrant workers forming the foundation of the United Kingdom's hospitality, food supply, and construction industries, the search for better-paying jobs that will help them pay back their sizeable debts are never-ending. In keeping with Broomfield's decidedly real-world approach to filmmaking and in order to maintain authenticity, the director cast an actual former migrant worker, Ai Qin Lin, who had once been illegally smuggled into the U.K. (and has since gained legal citizenship) in the lead role. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 38 min.
Directed By: Nick Broomfield
Written By: Nick Broomfield, Jez Lewis
Genres: Documentary, Drama, Special Interest

In Theaters: Jan 18, 2007 Wide
Studio: Beyond Films

Critic Reviews

Walter V. Addiego, San Francisco Chronicle
Worth seeing, not just for its message, but also for the intriguing way it uses documentary tools to tell a true story.
James Greenberg, Hollywood Reporter
Veteran documentary filmmaker Nick Broomfield makes an impressive leap to features with Ghosts.
Kevin Kelly, Cinematical
Extremely compelling.
Amber Wilkinson, Eye for Film
Finely balanced and well-argued, this is a work, which like its protagonist Ai Qin, has a quiet strength.
Jeremy Mathews, Film Threat
An extremely sincere depiction of the immigrant experience. Its core story isn't particularly better or worse than those of most other films about the immigrant experience, but it captures certain moments with gripping clarity.
Rich Cline, Shadows on the Wall
A strikingly well-made film, highlighting a serious issue in a powerfully resonant way.
Matthew Turner, ViewLondon
Powerful, superbly directed and frequently harrowing docu-drama with a strong performance by Ai Qin Lin.
Charlotte O'Sullivan, This is London
Broomfield has great visual style, exposing-Britain's ugliness and beauty at every turn.
, Times [UK]
It's an astute move to step back behind the camera. This is a story powerful enough to need little help in getting its point across.
Stuart McGurk, thelondonpaper
From the stunning horizon-spanning opening to the nerve-shredding climax, controversial documentary-maker Nick Broomfield moves seamlessly into feature films.
Anthony Quinn, Independent
Broomfield, inspired by Ken Loach and perhaps too by Michael Winterbottom in his exposure of the migrants' plight, has made a film surprising in its intensity and compassion.
David Edwards, Daily Mirror [UK]
Bookended by the terrible tragedy that befell Ai Qin and her friends, this is raw, heartfelt stuff - and enough to make you choke on your salad.
Peter Bradshaw, Guardian [UK]
A valuably tactless, steady, clear-eyed look at the tragedy and cruelty of the new globalised serfdom.
Jamie Russell, FilmFour.com
If you didn't know filmmaker Nick Broomfield was behind Ghosts you'd be forgiven for thinking it was a Michael Winterbottom film.
Tom Dawson, BBC
Like Michael Winterbottom's In This World, the digitally-shot Ghosts blurs the distinctions between documentary and fiction.
Dave Calhoun, Time Out
It has its weak points as drama - some stilted acting, especially - but when the topic itself is so in need of exposure, much can be forgiven in favour of the film's social and political importance. And important it certainly is.
, Total Film
Reveals the appalling conditions of virtual slavery endured by illegal immigrant workers in today's Britain.

Read all 17 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Lady D

Nick Broomfield's documentary experience allowed this film and it's portrayal of the events of the deaths of Chinese Imigrant workers at Morecambe Bay, England. The film takes you through the illegal imigration process up until the night of the tragic deaths. The film is… More
Nick Broomfield's documentary experience allowed this film and it's portrayal of the events of the deaths of Chinese Imigrant workers at Morecambe Bay, England. The film takes you through the illegal imigration process up until the night of the tragic deaths. The film is not only very realistic, but it's cast is mainly made up of people who have been in similar situations, which certainly adds to the authentic feel. In addition on the special features, you will find a very interesting 'Making of' section.
Ross C

An interesting insight into the story behind the death of Chinese cockle pickers caught up in the perilous tide of Morecambe Bay and the life of illegal immigrants working in Britain.

Cast

            Ai Qin Lin as Ai Qin

            Zhan Yu as Mr. Lin

            Zhe Wei as Xiao Li

            Man Qin Wei as Chio

            Wen Buo Zhai as Zhai

            Yong Aing Zhai
            
            Devi Zhu as Bai

            Tao Li as Chinese Cockle Picker

            An Sheng Lin as Baby Bebe

            Kan Jin Chen as Ai Qin's Mother

            Shiang Fa Lin as Ai Qin's Father

            Qin Rong Lin as Ai Qin's Brother

            Ping Chen as Snakehead in China

            Marc Hoeferlin as People Smuggler in Calais

            Dave Bryan as People Smuggler in Calais

            Jiannan Tian as Smuggled Chinese Immigrant

            Xiang Yang Li as Smuggled Chinese Immigrant

            Shu Ping Wang as Snakehead in UK

            Li Qing Yang as Snakehead in UK

            Raquel Marques as Employment Agency Assistant

            Grace Costa as Employment Agency Assistant

            Lorraine Day as Angry Woman in Agency

            Paul Wadsworth as Angry Neighbour

            Kay Briar Fox as Angry Neighbour's Wife

            Ruby Wood as Girl in Duck Factory

            Paul Ovenden as Employment Agency Manager

            Shaun Gallagher as Robert

            Lana Westfold as Farm Minibus Driver

            Roger Gray as Police Officer

            Graham Harris as Police Officer

            Paul Plausin as Police Officer

            Rhys Bond as Police Officer

            Paul Andrew Richardson as British Cockle-Picker

            Terry Sergeant as British Cockle-Picker

            Vikki McDonald as British Cockle-Picker

            Colin Brown as British Cockle-Picker

            Andrew Dodd as British Cockle-Picker

            Dafydd Hughes as British Cockle-Picker

            Stewart Jones as British Cockle-Picker

            Darren Kasselves as British Cockle-Picker

            Mark Thomas as British Cockle-Picker

            Michael Whitehead as British Cockle-Picker

            Sean Lin as Ai Qin's Son
See full cast

Photos

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Ghosts (2006)

Critic Reviews

Featured Audience Ratings

Lady D

Ross C

Cast

Photos

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