About this event
FilmThe Illegal Immigrant
非法移民
Mabel CHEUNG Yuen-ting
93 min
1985
Fiction
Cantonese, Mandarin, English
English and Chinese Subtitles
Content Advisory: This film contains scenes of violence
The 5th Hong Kong Film Awards—Best Director
In the 1980s, CHANG Chun-chiu (CHING Yung-cho), a young man from Guangzhou, makes his way illegally to New York, where he finds work in a Chinatown garment factory. When an immigration raid leads to his arrest, he enters into a sham marriage with LI Hsueh-hung (WU Fu-sheng), who desperately needs money for plastic surgery, agreeing to pay her US$20,000 to avoid deportation. The two initially agree to lead separate lives, but by chance find themselves working together at the same travel agency. As they navigate immigration investigations together, genuine affection gradually develops. Chang works tirelessly to repay his debts, and just as he and Li are about to begin a new life together, violence threatens to catch up with them.