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Ai Qin Lin, Zhan Yu, Zhe Wei, Man Qin Wei, Wen Buo Zhai ... see more see more... , Yong Aing Zhai , Devi Zhu , Tao Li , An Sheng Lin , Kan Jin Chen , Shiang Fa Lin , Qin Rong Lin , Ping Chen , Marc Hoeferlin , Dave Bryan , Jiannan Tian , Xiang Yang Li , Shu Ping Wang , Li Qing Yang , Raquel Marques , Grace Costa , Lorraine Day , Paul Wadsworth , Kay Briar Fox , Ruby Wood , Paul Ovenden , Shaun Gallagher , Lana Westfold , Roger Gray , Graham Harris , Paul Plausin , Rhys Bond , Paul Andrew Richardson , Terry Sergeant , Vikki McDonald , Colin Brown , Andrew Dodd , Dafydd Hughes , Stewart Jones , Darren Kasselves , Mark Thomas , Michael Whitehead , Sean Lin

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 t... read more read more...ale 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

Flixster Users

80% liked it

1,324 ratings

Critics

100% liked it

18 critics

Unrated, 1 hr. 38 min.

Directed by: Nick Broomfield

Release Date: January 18, 2007

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Stats: 115 reviews

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Chinese Cockle Pickers in Ghosts Spirited performance... Ai qin Lin in Ghosts
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Flixster Reviews (115)

  • 76Majikat
    April 4, 2008
    76Majikat
    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 ... read moreonly 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.
  • RossCollinsUK
    January 28, 2007
    RossCollinsUK
    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.
  • zacharylinzhao
    May 10, 2009
    zacharylinzhao
    Such a heart-wrenching film. Touched me deeply. All these years that I spent traveling around only makes me appreciate my life even more.

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Critic Reviews

Walter V. Addiego
November 24, 2008
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. Full Review

James Greenberg
January 27, 2007
James Greenberg, Hollywood Reporter

Veteran documentary filmmaker Nick Broomfield makes an impressive leap to features with Ghosts.

Kevin Kelly
October 18, 2008
Kevin Kelly, Cinematical

Extremely compelling. Full Review

Amber Wilkinson
December 7, 2007
Amber Wilkinson, Eye for Film

Finely balanced and well-argued, this is a work, which like its protagonist Ai Qin, has a quiet strength. Full Review

Jeremy Mathews
January 25, 2007
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 mom... Full Review

Rich Cline
January 24, 2007
Rich Cline, Shadows on the Wall

A strikingly well-made film, highlighting a serious issue in a powerfully resonant way. Full Review

Matthew Turner
January 13, 2007
Matthew Turner, ViewLondon

Powerful, superbly directed and frequently harrowing docu-drama with a strong performance by Ai Qin Lin. Full Review

Charlotte O'Sullivan
January 12, 2007
Charlotte O'Sullivan, This is London

Broomfield has great visual style, exposing-Britain's ugliness and beauty at every turn. Full Review

January 12, 2007
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. Full Review

Stuart McGurk
January 12, 2007
Stuart McGurk, thelondonpaper

From the stunning horizon-spanning opening to the nerve-shredding climax, controversial documentary-maker Nick Broomfield moves seamlessly into feature films. Full Review

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Ghosts Trivia

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