The fledgling filmmaker, whose first documentary "Yaya" premieres this month, discusses how he hopes to spark a dialogue about the plight of Hong Kong's domestic helpers
Being the eldest son of Hong Kong film director Alfred Cheung, 23-year-old Justin Cheung’s knack for storytelling should come as no surprise, though the speed with which he threw himself into his first project—and its subject—may to some.
Just over a year ago, having graduated from the New York University Tisch School of the Arts with a major in film and a minor in political science, Justin and six fellow former film students started production on Yaya, a 30-minute documentary that explores the “intimate and complex relationship” between a Filipino domestic worker and her employers, with funds raised through crowdsourcing.
Yaya is a Philippine English noun for a woman employed by a family to look after a child or sick or elderly members.
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Through asking hard questions and presenting an intimate portrayal of Justin’s own Filipina Yaya, Teresita Lauang, who has spent 34 years away from her family, the issues of the mistreatment and marginalisation of the domestic labour force are placed centre stage in an effort to spark an overdue conversation in the community.
When we met, Justin, with Teresita by his side, spoke about empathy, family, and the emotional and physical journey involved in this compelling project.
What inspired this documentary?
It started with a sense of injustice about someone I cared for very much. I remember at 10 years old having lunch at a membership club where domestic workers were not allowed to sit with us and thinking this is absurd. They are treated as second-class citizens.
Returning from the US, it was jarring to realise how abnormal it is to have [a domestic helper] live in your home. I tried to explore the issue as intimately as I could. [The film] is really about our relationship.
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Did you learn anything new about Yaya in making this film?
The most fascinating part was her love story with her husband, whom she met at 17. That grounds her story. I cannot imagine how hard it is to live 30 years at home while your wife is away.
I was also surprised at how much she loved working with us. At a certain point, we started seeing each other as family—a complicated version of a family. Sometimes she is more comfortable in Hong Kong than in the Philippines.