The film gets under the skin of a very marginalized group: recent immigrants to Hong Kong from Mainland China. Belying the expectation that they will belong in a territory now returned to China's sovereignty, they find themselves lonely, frustrated, poor, and employable only in the most menial jobs, from elevator service staff to prostitution.
Tony Leung
as Ah Jian
Lü Liping
as Ah Yan
Wang Ning
as Yan Ying
Rolf Chow Chi-Sang
as Ah Chun