Papa

Morning at the cha chaan teng, Nin returns to work and is met by odd gazes from colleagues and neighbors. The tense atmosphere hints that something is deeply unresolved within the family. It becomes clear that Ming has murdered Nin's wife Yin and daughter Grace and surrendered to the police the night before.

Sometime later, Nin sells the cha chaan teng to one of his waiters, signaling his withdrawal from the place that now brings pain. He no longer wants to see the restaurant, which stands as a painful reminder of his loss. This marks a turn in his life as he tries to move forward.

Nin attends Ming's trial and watches as Ming confesses to the killings. Ming explains his motive, saying he heard a voice telling him he had a mission to eliminate part of the population to save the world. The revelation adds a chilling layer to the tragedy and leaves Nin to confront his son's judgment and guilt.

One night Nin shares a meal with his mother and his sister's family. He lies, saying that his wife and children are busy, but his mother reveals she has known what happened all along. The confrontation deepens the sense of secret knowledge within the family.

Nin recalls meeting Yin in 1993, when their engagement was opposed by both families. Despite the objections, Nin insists on marrying Yin, and the couple soon welcomes their first son. The memory shows the early tension around their union and foreshadows later consequences.

Nin visits Ming in prison and asks him to apply for a pardon to increase his number of visits. Ming refuses, offering various excuses. The exchange reveals the strain of the father-son relationship even behind bars.

Lonely at home with their house cat Carnation, Nin attempts to hire a door-to-door prostitute. The woman deceives him and leaves with his payment, triggering an emotional breakdown. The incident underscores Nin's isolation in the wake of family tragedy.

During a family therapy session, Nin and Ming speak under a psychiatrist's guidance. Nin demands an explanation for why their loved ones were killed, while Ming finally reveals that he believes Nin never listened to what his family wanted to say. The session exposes the unresolved communication at the heart of the family’s downfall.

Before the murders, Yin had urged Nin to stop running their restaurant around the clock. Nin refused, prioritizing work over family life. The dispute illustrates the mounting strain before the fateful night.

Grace brings home a stray cat named Carnation and insists on keeping it, despite Ming's objections. Grace's interest in the cat fades over time, leaving Nin and Ming to shoulder the responsibility. Carnation later goes missing, and Ming carefully rescues it from a perilous edge.

During the summer Ming works at Nin's restaurant and clashes with his father over the packing method used by staff. He asks Nin to buy him a new phone with photography functions, but Nin refuses, preferring a traditional camera. Ming uses his summer salary to buy the phone himself, showing his independence and desire for control over his own tools.

On a family trip to Hainan, Nin's mother discovers the phone Ming purchased and returns the money he spent. She waits until Nin is asleep to avoid arguing with him, showing a fragile balance within the family. She does not object to Ming's purchase but avoids discussing it with Nin.

In 2013, Ming has been locked in the psychiatric hospital for four years and his request for early release is denied. Nin expresses his willingness to care for Ming full-time now that he is retired. The exchange highlights Nin's ongoing commitment despite the tragedy and his distance from the past.

Ming writes a letter to Nin apologizing for his actions and asks his father to visit him on his 18th birthday. Nin visits on that birthday but refuses to discuss the murders during their reunion. The private exchange underscores the lingering damage and the difficulty of reconciliation within the family.

Years later, Ming is released as an adult and returns to his old home. He shares a meal with his father, they have lunch together, and the film ends as Ming looks at their family photo. The closing image suggests a cautious, unresolved peace rather than closure.