No Day Off

2006

Digital 2006

Eric KHOO,Pen-ek | Korea | 2006 | 39min | DigiBeta | Color | Short

SYNOPSIS

Charts four years in the life of Siti, a young woman who leaves her husband and baby boy in a remote village in Sulawesi to work as a maid in Singapore. The narrative unfolds through her perspective and captures her trials and tribulations as she works for three different families in Singapore.

DIRECTING INTENTION

Maids are an emotive issue in Singapore. Two decades ago, they were a rare breed in Singapore. Today, one in seven families has one. And the fact of the matter is, many Singaporean families have no idea how to treat their foreign domestic workers. Many see maids as commodities –they hire them, work them and send them home. They ignore the fact that many of the thousands of foreigners who look after their children, cook and clean for them have left behind their own families. There are many things I hope to explore with - Is Singapore a Maid-to-Order society?Are we really that callous? But more importantly, I hope to explore the person, the individual behind the maid who scrubs our floors, feeds and bathes our children and leaves among us. What are her hopes, dreams? What has she sacrificed?

DIRECTOR
Eric KHOO

Eric KHOO

His first feature films the psychological drama (1995) earned the author praise at home and abroad. His 3rd feature film was invited to screen as an opening film of the director’s fortnight of Cannes in 2005. It was applauded as a film that portraits a desire for being in love and loneliness dramatically. This film has been invited to and awarded by many international film festivals. Awards include the Best Director Award at the Torino International Film Festival. 
1996  < Mee Pok Marr > 
1997  < 12 Storeys >
2005  < Be with ME >

Pen-ek

STAFF