Introduction by Lulu Wang and Joanna Bowers

In Joanna Bowers’s debut documentary, doubtlessly a key reference to Wang while developing Expats, in particular “Central,” the reality of the migrant domestic worker industry is plumbed with impressive resourcefulness and heartfelt intuition. The Helper sheds light on the thousands of women who, each year, travel from around Southeast Asia to seek employment as live-in caretakers for Hong Kong’s wealthiest families. Bowers trains her camera on the sacrifices and challenges facing these women—from Nurul, a young Indonesian helper accused of theft, to Liza, who carves out her own path of financial freedom—alongside local organizations fighting for workers’ rights and even a choir of workers as they prepare for their debut performance at Clockenflap, Hong Kong’s largest outdoor music festival, in 2015.

“An eye-opening documentary that offers a glimpse into the lives of Hong Kong’s domestic helpers.” —Lulu Wang