Time Still Turns the Pages

The main action takes place in present-day Hong Kong, focusing on a teacher and his students. The narrative repeatedly flashes back to the protagonist’s childhood, revealing the roots of the family’s trauma. This structure links past pressures to present struggles and eventual healing. A Disneyland memory anchors the past in the family’s shared history.

The story unfolds in a contemporary Hong Kong setting, centered around a family home and a secondary school. Key scenes shift to a rooftop, classrooms, and the memory of a Disneyland trip in California. The urban environment underscores the intense focus on education and social expectations that drive the characters. Memory and space become fixtures in the characters' emotional landscapes.

💔 Family Guilt

The film centers on the heavy guilt borne by family members after Yau-kit’s death. The father’s rigid expectations and the brothers’ silences create a pain that lingers for years. Secrets and unspoken truths shape their choices, preventing closure. The narrative uses memory to reveal how guilt can bind a family across generations.

🎓 Academic Pressure

Academic achievement and university entrance exams loom large over the household. The father’s insistence on perfection pushes the children toward despair and rebellion. The school environment reinforces a culture where success is a measure of worth. The film uses these pressures to explore their human cost.

🕊️ Healing & Reconciliation

Ultimately the story seeks reconciliation between estranged family members. The surviving brother aims to tell Yau-kit’s story to heal old wounds, using diaries and a radio drama to share their truth. Illness narrows the time for forgiveness, making honest conversations essential. The act of passing the diary forward marks a step toward emotional healing.