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.[4] The film premiered at the Golden Horse Film Festival on 20 November 2016.[5]
| The Receptionist | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Jenny Lu |
| Written by | Jenny Lu Yeh Yi-wen |
| Produced by | Li Ya-mei Jimmy Huang Chiou Zi-ning Peter J Kirby |
| Starring | Teresa Daley Chen Shiang-chyi |
| Cinematography | Gareth Munden |
| Edited by | Hoping Chen |
| Music by | Luming Lu |
Production companies | Uncanny Films Dark Horse Image |
| Distributed by | Mirror Stage Films (Taiwan) |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 100 minutes |
| Countries | Taiwan United Kingdom |
| Languages | Mandarin English Taiwanese |
| Budget | £300,000[1] |
| Box office | NT$3 million (Taiwan)[2][3] |
Premise
editTina is a Taiwanese graduate living in London with her British student architect boyfriend. Struggling to find work during the financial crisis of 2007–2008, 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
edit- 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
editThe film received funding from Taiwan's Bureau of Audiovisual and Music Industry Development, as well as through a crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter.[6]
Release
editThe film has been an official selection at the Edinburgh International Film Festival,[7] the Raindance Film Festival,[8] the Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival[9] the Durban International Film Festival,[10] the Milan and Salento Film Festivals and the 40th Asian American International Film Festival in New York City.[11]
Soundtrack
editPromotional song
edit| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Performer | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "The Real World 真實世界" | Ball, Jie | Ball | 04:19 |
Reception
editCritical response
editThe Receptionist (Jie Xian Yuan) has received an 88% rating on review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes.
Peter Bradshaw of the Guardian lauded it as "a valuable, intelligent debut."[12] Elizabeth Kerr in The Hollywood Reporter gave it more mixed reviews.[13]
Accolades
edit| Award | Category | Recipients | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 54th Golden Horse Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Chen Shiang-chyi | Nominated |
| Milan Film Festival | Best Feature Film | The Receptionist | Nominated |
| Salento Film Festival | Best Feature Film | The Receptionist | Nominated |
| 40th AAIFF | Emerging Director Award | Jenny Lu | Won |
References
edit- ^ Sui, Cindy (23 June 2017). "Film exposes London's sex industry underworld". BBC News.
- ^ "TFI-國家電影中心 Taiwan Film Institute - 電影票房資訊-每月票房公告". Archived from the original on 7 March 2017. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
- ^ "【開眼電影網】接線員 The Receptionist". atmovies.com.tw. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
- ^ 三立新聞網. "金馬影后陳湘琪演妓女入戲太深 殺青才知得罪全劇組 - 娛樂 - 三立新聞網 SETN.COM". setn.com. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
- ^ "The Receptionist". www.goldenhorse.org.tw. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
- ^ "UK-Taiwan co-production 'The Receptionist' wraps shoot". screendaily.com. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
- ^ "The Receptionist (Jie Xian Yuan)". www.edfilmfest.org.uk. Retrieved 11 August 2018.
- ^ "The Receptionist". calendar.raindancefestival.org. Retrieved 11 August 2018.
- ^ "台北金馬影展 Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival | The Receptionist". www.goldenhorse.org.tw (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Retrieved 11 August 2018.
- ^ "Durban International Film Festival - The Receptionist (Jie Xian Yuan)". Retrieved 11 August 2018.
- ^ (Taiwan), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of China (24 July 2017). "Three Taiwan works to be screened at New York film festival - Taiwan Today". Taiwan Today. Retrieved 11 August 2018.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Bradshaw, Peter (20 July 2018). "The Receptionist review – an intimate voyage into London's underworld". the Guardian. Retrieved 11 August 2018.
- ^ "'The Receptionist': Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 11 August 2018.