The Receptionist

The Receptionist 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. The film premiered at the Golden Horse Film Festival on 20 November 2016.

Premise
Tina 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

 * 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
The film received funding from Taiwan's Bureau of Audiovisual and Music Industry Development, as well as through a crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter.

Release
The film has been an official selection at the Edinburgh International Film Festival, the Raindance Film Festival, the Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival the Durban International Film Festival, the Milan and Salento Film Festivals and the 40th Asian American International Film Festival in New York City.

Critical response
The 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." Elizabeth Kerr in The Hollywood Reporter gave it more mixed reviews.