Cafe Owner Nin (Sean Lau) contented life is shattered forever when his fifteen year old son Ming (Dylan So) violently murders his mother and sister one evening. Diagnosed with acute schizophrenia, Ming is remanded to a psychiatric prison indefinitely until full recovery. Aside from visiting his son twice a month, Nin tries to continue his daily pedestrian existence while struggling against the immense feelings of anger and grief over his lost family. As time passes, Nin has given up on understanding the reasons for this tragedy. He only hopes to connect with his son Ming, who despite everything is now his sole remaining family and see the day where he can come home again.
Papa is a poignant, Powerful and moving drama that sees Sean Lau in fine form taking the character Nin from the depths of tragedy and despair to an accepting father. This performance isn’t one that has emotions thrown out at you but more of inward reflection with bursts of memories that evoke tearful awakenings of the loss of those that were nearest and dearest to you. Sean providing depth to his character without having to overplay the grief that you feel within him and behind his eyes.
Papa isn’t a film for those who want a smash you in the face powerhouse of a performance its a film that creeps up on you and stays with you stripping away the layers of guilt, grief and sadness for you to glimpse into a families tragedy. One final note, this is based on a true story something Director Philip Yung has been working on for the last 13 years, having met the protagonist of this real life tragedy when he was conducting research for the project. Bold, beautifully directed and moving a film not to be missed.
