Review: Whispers & Moans

In Whispers and Moans, Herman Yau turns the spotlight on the Hong Kong sex industry. Easy fodder for a Category III movie, but Herman had other plans, instead of the usual cheap skin flicks that come to mind. Based on a book by co-writer Yang Yee-shan, which contains true life accounts of workers from the industry, Herman has weaved them into a coherent narrative, spanning 10 days in which frank discussions and observations of the industry are played out—as per the Chinese title of the movie, literally translated as “10 Days of Conversations with Sex Workers”.

With a title like that, and the group in focus, it is without a doubt that most stars conscious of their image will naturally shun roles. However, Athena Chu Yan and Candice Yu On On provide the much needed veteran star power to the movie, acting as nightclub “mamasans” to relatively fresh faced actresses, most of whom are taking on their maiden roles in this movie.

The movie looks at the lives and problems faced amongst the ensemble characters, with the difficulties on the jobs ranging from customers who demand everything including the kitchen sink, to stiff competition faced from the Mainlanders, who are willing to do more for less. Taking 10 days to weave the stories together (hence the title), each lady in the movie have their own problems to grapple with, however these problems are nothing new.

You have a drug abuser, a mother who’s afraid of transmitting diseases to her child, a bargirl who’s reluctant about her job, and who realises she cannot lead a normal working hours life, a professional who buries her resentment deep inside her heart, cheating boyfriends and husbands, and the list goes on. We also observe the other spectrum, with gigolos, bisexuals and transsexuals too, and the prejudice they face in today’s society.

It’s easy to sit through the movie as these stories are often heard about in the news, or as portrayed in various other movies. You might think there is nothing new on offer, but Whispers and Moans has a character in a rights movement worker, who serves as a mouthpiece for policies such as to raise the professionalism of these workers, with the hope of raising their level of self-respect, using the argument that it’s a job, and one, if in the industry, should do their utmost best, just like in any other profession, in any other industry.

The movie’s quite topical and while the focus is on the sex industry in Hong Kong, the issues discussed here are probably quite universal amongst the workers in the industry around the world.

‘Whispers & Moans‘ (2006/7) Trailer (Streaming) via Mov3; not safe for work..