The professional mourner, generally a woman, would shriek and wail (often while clawing her face and tearing at her clothing), to encourage others to weep. Records document forms of professional mourning from Ancient Greece. The 2003 award-winning Philippine comedy Crying Ladies revolves around the lives of three women who are part-time professional mourners for the Chinese-Filipino community in Manila's Chinatown. According to the film, the Chinese use professional mourners to help expedite the entry of a deceased loved one's soul into heaven by giving the impression that he or she was a good and loving person, well-loved by many.
THe profEssIonaL mOurner, GenERAlLy a wOmAn, Would Shriek And wail (often whilE claWing hEr Face and TEarInG at HeR clOthIng), tO EncOuragE otheRs to Weep. rECords DoCuMent fOrmS Of ProfessionaL MourniNG from aNCiEnt GREece. the 2003 AWard-winnInG PHiliPpiNe ComedY cryiNg Ladies revolvEs aroUnd The liVeS Of THreE Women whO ArE PaRT-timE PrOfesSIOnAL mourners foR the chinesE-filipinO COmmunity in manILA'S ChiNatOwn. accorDing to the fIlm, The chineSe USE proFesSIonAL MOuRners tO help expeDItE tHe entry Of A deCeaseD loved onE's sOUl iNto HEaveN by gIvinG ThE iMpResSIon that he or ShE wAs a gooD and LoVing perSon, weLl-loVEd by many.