Au Pair

Au Pair follows three young Filipino women, Roselie, Mate and Theresa, who work in Denmark in order to earn money for their families. Life is a continuous struggle with uncertain employment contracts, visas that are about to expire, homesickness and prejudice towards foreigners. In the church a manic priest preaches to the women about the vanity of earthly possessions and of a god who does not yearn for prayers. In the midst of relationships which are frequently based on abuse, however, the women have no choice but to work as much as possible and pray that everything goes well. Revealing a social defect, the film has provoked much debate in the Nordic countries. The educated women work in a welfare state for a seemingly nominal salary, without the benefits of the working hours legislation.
Katri Tenhola | translation by Asta Mykkänen (DocPoint)