Papa

The story moves from 1993, when Nin and Yin's relationship faces family opposition, through the subsequent decades, to 2013 when Ming is imprisoned and the family confronts the consequences of violence. It repeatedly shifts between past and present to reveal how earlier decisions shape current trauma. The end hints at a new chapter, with Ming returning as an adult after release.

The film largely takes place around a busy cha chaan teng in Hong Kong, anchoring the family drama in a familiar, everyday space. The restaurant functions as a social hub where memories are formed and revisited, intertwining work with family life. Other crucial scenes unfold at Nin's home, in a prison during Ming's trial, and on a family trip to Hainan, highlighting how place marks different emotional states.

💔 Family Tragedy

The film centers on a family shattered by murder, forcing Nin to confront the past while maintaining rituals that kept the family together. Nonlinear storytelling reveals memories from different years, showing how ordinary routines mask deep wounds. The cha chaan teng and the home become stages where grief mutates into memory and guilt.

🧠 Memory & Guilt

Ming's confession and his claim that a voice commanded him to make the world safer blur the line between fate and responsibility. Nin's attempts to understand his son's actions reveal the limits of listening to family members and the difficulty of assigning blame. The film uses recollections across years to complicate straightforward moral judgments.

🤝 Forgiveness & Reconciliation

As Nin and Ming confront each other in therapy and visits, forgiveness remains elusive but possible. The ending suggests a cautious reunion, with Nin choosing to engage with his son despite the past. The film questions whether forgiveness can coexist with accountability and ongoing strain.