The film is based on real-life stories of Filipino caregivers abroad. Director Roño searched for stories of their lives abroad and personally talked to some who shared their experiences. Roño has friends who work as caregivers; their real-life scenarios were directly depicted in the film. The cast includes British actors namely; Saul Reichlin, Matthew Rutherford, and Claire Jeater.

Sarah (Sharon Cuneta), a grade school English teacher, joins the 150,000 Pinoy OFWs working in the United Kingdom to support her husband, Teddy (John Estrada), in making a better living for their family. More than just a chronicle of the Filipino experience working as nurses and caregivers in the U.K., this story also charts Sarah's journey to self-discovery – from a submissive wife who makes sacrifices to make way for her Teddy's aspirations to an empowered woman who finds dignity and pride in a humbling job as a caregiver in London.

The story begins as Sarah says goodbye to her familiar world. After finishing an arduous course in caregiving, she bids farewell to the Grade 5 classroom where she teaches English. She buys a winter coat for her son Paulo (John Manalo) and promises he will use it once she can afford to take him to London. In typical Pinoy fashion, she shares tearful goodbyes with her whole family at the airport when she finally leaves for the United Kingdom.

Sarah arrives in London. At their apartment, she and Teddy share a passionate reunion. In a honeymoon mood, he takes her to the beautiful sights around London. While window-shopping at a famous mall, Sarah meets Sean (Makisig Morales), a spunky Filipino boy, as he tries to shoplift chocolate bars.

After the initial fleeting period of excitement, she experiences the hard challenges every Filipino caregiver faces every day: cold weather, dirty work and difficult patients.

Meanwhile, Teddy also struggles with the daily grind in the hospital where he works. He is stressed and drinks often because he has failed the nursing test twice.

Despite the difficulty of adjusting to London life, however, Sarah faithfully stands by her Teddy. She tries to make the most of the situation by doing her best at work and earns the respect of Mr. Morgan, a wealthy old man. Teddy is oblivious to her success, however, as he is absorbed in his own problems with work. Sarah finds solace in her friendship with Mr. Morgan and his son David, who seems to appreciate her more than Teddy does, and with Sean, who eases her longing for her own son.

Tension rises between Sarah and Teddy as the stress of London life takes its toll on their marriage. Because of mounting conflict both at work and home, Teddy decides to give up. He tells Sarah that they are going back to the Philippines.

Sarah finds it very hard to accept Teddy's decision. She knows that staying in London is the best thing for their family, because returning to the Philippines would only mean going back to the same problems they had before. Will Sarah choose to remain by Teddy's side to keep her family intact? Or will she find the strength to stay in London to continue seeking a better life for her son, even if it means losing her marriage?

Medy (Pokwang) lived in the Philippines working as a make-up artist, and was given the chance of a lifetime to accompany a concert star in a performance held in the United States. She left her growing family, but promised to come back after the week-long trip. However while in America, she stumbled across a former classmate Helen (Beth Tamayo) who convinced Medy to stay for a living income. Having a trouble to fit in, Helen helps Medy with the starters by letting her stay at her house and find some jobs. Eventually as time passes by, Medy's husband Gerry (Nonie Buencamino) calls in to plead for money to send to the Philippines because of their daughter Queenie's (Xyriel Manabat) illness.

Following her friend's suggestions, Medy first approaches work as a front desk at a children's drama studio. Medy quickly becomes a natural at her job and is also quickly becomes a favorite with the students and the workers. Unfortunately her income isn't enough for her family abroad, and she approaches the more intense job as a housekeeper for a wealthy and harsh family. Medy finds out the daughter in the family, Cherry, is a student in the studio she used to work at, and they become quick friends. Medy continues to work as a housekeeper five years later, reaching her seventh year in the United States. She earns decent income, but not decent treatment as a human being. Particularly, the husband and wife of the family put their anger toward Medy because the couple's unstable relationship and their dislike of how she does her job. When it became much apparent to Medy and to the couple's daughter, Cherry advises Medy that escaping her job would be the best for her, and she secretly gives Medy's passport back.

Medy had no choice at the time but to seek legal advice, and she seeks Atty. Michael J. Gurfinkel. He told Medy that she has a strong right to file a case against the family for illegal detention, physical injuries, and hiring someone like her as an undocumented citizen. She continues with the case for the best. When Helen arrives for Medy, Medy expresses her anger for all the trouble she is caused now because of her illegal antics that could have endangered her.

Going back home after seven years of absence, Medy comes home to an impartial family reunion. Medy's mother Choleng is taking care of Medy's children King who is 19, Queenie who is 7, and Medy's husband Gerry becomes another woman's lover. Choleng is happy for Medy to be back and Queenie is grateful to finally meet her mother. King on the other hand feels betrayed and unbiased toward Medy and would rather see her go back. Gerry still has feelings for Medy, but in the contrary has love for another woman. Medy feels out of place again, but toward her loved ones in her home country.

After Medy tells her "mother's story" of her time in the United States, the whole family feels sympathy in the end and Medy files a divorce. Medy also gets a phone call from Atty. Gurfinkel stating that she won the case with back wages and additional from emotional distress as well. Medy also finds out Cherry was the shadow of the testimony that provided the hard evidence for her. All the hardships in the past were set aside and Medy rebuilds her life with her mother and children, celebrating their first Christmas altogether. After Christmas, King himself decides to go abroad just like his mother, hoping for a better and bright future. The whole family wishes him the best of luck no matter where in the world he will be.

Jessica Sanchez, the eldest of 3 siblings, was born on August 4, 1995 in Chula Vista, California to Gilbert and Edita Sanchez. Her father, a Mexican American originally from Texas, is a U.S. Navy veteran who fought in the Iraq War. Her mother is Filipina and originally hailed from Bataan province in the Philippines.Her maternal grandfather, Eddie Bugay, is a retired U.S. Navy sailor.

Sanchez was selected for full scholarship training at the Theater of Arts in Hollywood.

Sanchez first competed on television in the first season of America's Got Talent at the age of 11. Despite a successful audition, Sanchez was not chosen to be in the semi-finals. She was not seen on the show until during the Wildcard round of the semi-finals when Brandy Norwood chose her to comeback for a chance to compete for the finals. She performed "I Surrender" by Celine Dion.

On September 22, 2008, Sanchez sang The Star-Spangled Banner before a San Diego Chargers versus New York Jets matchup. She sang the national anthem on September 27, 2009 before a San Diego Chargers versus Miami Dolphins matchup.[11]

In October 2009, Sanchez recorded a cover of "Don't Stop the Music" by Rihanna for iTunes with independent record label Spin Move Records. The following spring, Sanchez recorded another single with Spin Move Records, a cover of Etta James' "I'd Rather Go Blind" for YouTube and exclusive download on the label's website.

Sanchez was one of the singers in Lisa Lavie's collaboration video "We Are the World 25 for Haiti (YouTube Edition)" for charity relief for victims of the 2010 Haiti earthquake, along with later America's Got Talentcontestant and earlier American Idol finalist Thia Megia from the previous season. The video's participants were collectively recognized as "Persons of the Week" on ABC World News with Diane Sawyer on March 19, 2010.

http://www.facebook.com/JSanchezAI11

Story Summary:

Ang istorya ay tungkol kay Josie (Vilma Santos), isang ina na nagtatrabaho sa Hong Kong bilangdomestic helper. Ginawa niya ito upang makapagpadala ng pera sa mga anak niya upang matustusan ang kanilang pangangailangan. Binangggit niya na ginagawa nya ito para mabigyan ng magandang kinabukasan ang kanyang mga anak. Bagama't siya ay malayo sa kanila, tiniis nya ang mga pasakit ng kanyang amo at ang kanyang pagnanais na makasama ang kanyang mga anak sa kanilang paglaki.

This movie tells the story of Josie who works as a DH (i.e., domestic helper) in Hong Kong.  If Filipino dramas are to be judged by the amount of tears shed by the various actors during the performance and by the amount of tears which are expected to be shed by the audience, then this movie can be rated in the five gallon plus category.  There is plenty of crying to go around in this movie and most of the actors and actresses get the chance to show off their crying prowess.  All this sentimentality is likely to appeal more to Filipino audiences than to American audiences.  The film is entirely in Tagalog and English speakers will not understand much of the movie.  Nevertheless, there is enough physical action and body language in the movie so that an English speaker can get the basic gist of the plot.  I was also assisted by my trusty interpreter (i.e., my wife) who translated some of the more emotional scenes for me.

The story begins with the return of Josie to her native land, the Philippines.  She has been away in Hong Kong for many years.  Josie is middle aged and she has three children.  The oldest is her daughter Carla who is a college student.  The next is her son Michael who is a high school student.  The youngest is the daughter Daday who is in grade school.  Michael and Daday arrive at the airport to greet Josie, but she has been away so long that she doesn't even recognize them.  She is introduced to them by a long-time family friend.  Michael is quite shy to meet his mother.  Daday was so young when her mother left that she doesn't even remember her mother.

They return to the family house, which is quite nice by Filipino standards.  Friends and neighbors have gathered to hear all about Josie's life in Hong Kong and to receive the obligatory gifts which they know are coming.  Michael and Daday don't know how to behave around this seeming stranger.  When Josie gives Michael some athletic wear for basketball he informs her that he doesn't even play basketball.  Josie is completely out of touch with the lives of her children.  Later that night Carla arrives home and gives her mother an icy stare.  The stage is set for the remainder of the movie, which centers around the escalating conflict between Josie and her oldest daughter Carla.  The other two children at least tolerate Josie's presence but Carla has a deep-seated hatred of her mother.

The movie employs many flashback scenes where we learn the reason why Josie went to Hong Kong in the first place (her husband Rudy had worked in Taiwan but he became so homesick that he came back to the Philippines; somebody had to earn the money for the family and so the burden fell to Josie).  There are a few scenes detailing Josie's life in Hong Kong which turns out to be a living Hell.  She works as a domestic helper (i.e., maid) for a wealthy Chinese family (apparently the Chinese have replaced the British as the Brahmins of Hong Kong).  She cleans house, cooks for the family, and takes care of the infant son of the Chinese parents.  The Chinese family treats Josie as they would a family pet, or perhaps worse.  One flashback has Josie calling Carla for Carla's birthday.  But just when Carla picks up the phone the Chinese family arrives home and Josie hangs up immediately.  She doesn't want to get into trouble for making a long distance phone call.  Another flashback shows the Chinese family leaving on vacation.  They take Josie's passport and lock her in the house for two weeks so she won't run away.  Although she has enough food to last her until they return she is a virtual prisoner in the house.  One wonders if these scenes are exaggerations or if they actually occur in real life.

Josie has been careful not to reveal her terrible life in Hong Kong to her family.  The salary that she earns as a DH goes to supporting a middle class lifestyle for her family.  The family lives in a nice house with plenty of good food.  The kids attend private schools.  All of this is paid for by Josie slaving away in Hong Kong for a Chinese boss who treats her like a dog.  But Carla knows nothing of this.  To Carla's way of thinking, her mother is living it up in Hong Kong and cares nothing about them.  So one wonders, why doesn't Josie just tell Carla the truth?  The movie doesn't explain this anomaly.

For example, Carla blames Josie for not returning to attend the funeral of the husband Rudy (the reason for his death is not made clear).  But Josie has a good reason.  During that time she was locked in the Chinese house with no telephone access.  When her Chinese boss returns Josie receives a letter informing her of the death of her husband.  She begs her boss to be allowed to return to the Philippines.  Her boss refuses.  But Carla knows nothing of this.  She imagines that her mother intended not to return for the funeral out of spite.

When Josie announces that she is home for good and won't be returning to Hong Kong, the sparks really begin to fly.  Carla now embarks on a mission of going out of her way to piss off her mother.  She brings her boyfriend over to the house where they sleep together.  Josie finds them the next morning and she is deeply offended (which of course, was Carla's intention).  Meanwhile, Michael has been hiding a secret from his mother.  He attends a fancy private school on a scholarship.  Unfortunately, his grades have gone downhill and his scholarship has been revoked.  His mother must now fork over a large tuition bill to keep him in school.  But Michael is afraid to tell his mother this bad news.  Also, the youngest daughter Daday plays a trick on her mother in which she invites Josie to eat a meal cooked by Daday only to find out there is a live frog on the plate.  It seems Josie can't get any respect from her children.

Tensions escalate when Carla decides to run away from home.  She hooks up with a bad gang of drug users.  She takes on a boyfriend who is a real low-life scumbag.  Josie eventually tracks down Carla and enters the apartment where she begs Carla to come home.  They eventually end up in a cat fight with Josie winding up on the floor, decked by Carla.  If Carla had been my kid I would have knocked her into next week (but that's another story).  Josie leaves disappointed thinking that she has lost a daughter.  Soon afterward Carla discovers that her low-life boyfriend has been unfaithful to her.  She runs away to a bar where she drinks too much and winds up lying in the gutter stone cold drunk.  Luckily for her, her family finds her and rescues her.

By now Josie has had enough.  She decides to return to Hong Kong since she can't get any respect from her children.  That evening Josie and Carla end up having the climactic fight of the entire movie.  Each of them says hurtful words to the other.  It is only now that Josie reveals how horrible her life in Hong Kong is.  Buckets of tears are shed during this scene and both Vilma Santos and Claudine Barretto engage in a bit of overacting by American standards.  Now Carla does an abrupt about-face and begins to appreciate her mother.  This turn of events is frankly unbelievable in my opinion and I thought it greatly diminished the credibility of the entire movie.  Despite her reconciliation with Carla, Josie proceeds with her plan to return to Hong Kong.  After arriving in Hong Kong she receives a letter from Carla talking about recent events in the family.  Josie smiles.  All is right with the world.  Her daughter has forgiven her and vice versa.  Huh?, what kind of closure is that?  Nothing substantial has been resolved by the end of the movie.  Josie is still working as a DH for some Chinese boss who treats her like a dog.  Some happy ending!

Overall, this was a pretty good movie if you can live with the mediocre ending.  It is a cut above the typical Filipino fare.  In particular I would like to single out the performance of Baron Geisler who played Michael.  I thought he stole the show with his masterful performance.  He didn't have a whole lot of lines in the movie but the impact of his facial expressions and body language were very powerful.  There were several times during the movie where I wanted to take the character played by Claudine Barretto and smack her around a bit.  I thought the Carla character was a little bitch who needed to be taught a big lesson.  I also thought the film missed a golden opportunity to make a political statement about the awful economic situation in the Philippines, which forces millions of Filipinos to leave their homeland and earn a living abroad.  For all these reasons I give this movie a rating of three stars.

FAMOUS LINES:

"Sana sa bawat sigarilyomg hinihitit mo, sa bawat alak na

iniinom mo, sana naisip mo kung ilan pagkain ang tiniis kong hin

di kainin para lang may ipadala sa inyo"

          - VILMA SANTOS in 'ANAK'

CAST: