The character she's playing is called Ai Qin. My guess is, she's one of the survivors - if so, what a stunning performance.
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I read few months ago that Ai quin is/was indeed an illegal immigrant but she was not an actual cockle picker. Still great performance...I suppose she found herself in similar situations as those cockle pickers...RIP
shareIn all honesty, I don't think the survivors could relive the moments, even if it is for a film
Yeah, she is an illegal immigrant herself living here for about 7 years and I thought she did an absolute stunning performance.
Nick Broomfield explained at a screening that the final scene is Ai Qin Lin being reunited with her own son for real, filmed in the airport on a handicam. It was inserted into the film as part of her character's story.
I don't know for sure, but I assume that the scenes in China at the beginning of the film were filmed after the reunion, using Ai Qin's own family, but used as the back story of the character before she left China.