Nice comments hengcs, a very good docu/drama that is as realistic as feasibly possible.

All the Chinese cast were originally immigrants, quite a few illegal so many of them had been through the very same experiences for real. 

Lin Ai Qin who played Ai Qin in the film went through the tortuous journey from China to the U.K. in the same way as shown in the film, months spent in confined hiding spaces in trucks, it must have been painful for her in particular to go through the experience again although of course this time it was under filming conditions.

In terms of the housing and jobs, Nick Broomfield spent months investigating genuine properties and factories that had housed and employed illegal immigrants, the cast were required to live the experience and did live and sleep for the duration within the confines of the overcrowded and dilapidated housing.

During the Morecambe Bay section, you see the local cockle pickers attacking the illegal immigrants as they see them as a threat to their livelihood, this is what forced them into making the fatal mistake of going out late in the day to collect cockles. During the filming in Morecombe, the cast and crew were physically and verbally attacked by the local pickers even though they had explained that they were only there to make the film.

Before seeing the 'Ghosts' I had assumed that the title referred to the virtually hidden world of the illegal immigrants, but during the film the expression, 'Ghosts' was used by the Chinese for the white people who bled them of money, to me both meanings make sense.

Nick Broomfield's work has never held a great appeal for me but Ghosts is an outstanding film.

The R2 dvd was released by Tartan Video and is an excellent transfer of the film.

The making of doc included illustrates the levels of authenticity used including secret filming in factories where illegal immigrants are commonly employed because of their low cost and disposability. 

Highly recommended.

Cheers Trev.