Yen and Ai-Lee

Yen begins as a protective, impulsive young woman who murders her abusive father to shield her mother. Eight years later, she returns from prison a changed person, reinventing herself as Allie to navigate a harsher urban world while remaining deeply loyal to her family. Her journey blends tenderness with determination as she forms bonds with Wei and confronts her past. Her arc centers on resilience, self-discovery, and the limits of vengeance in the pursuit of belonging.

Ai-Lee is Yen's mother who runs a local grocery store and is entangled in the family’s precarious finances. She has resorted to questionable means in the past to make ends meet, but she evolves after Yen's return, showing both stubbornness and care. She struggles with loyalty to Ren, yet gradually shows protective, maternal instincts toward Wei and Yen. Her journey probes the costs of survival and the possibility of redemption within family ties.

Ren is a rude local thug who exerts control and threatens Ai-Lee and Yen. He embodies the danger that Yen returns to confront, including attempts to kill Ai-Lee when his grip on the family is threatened. His volatile presence escalates the tension and tests Yen's resolve to protect Wei and redefine her family. His arc is the catalysis for the film's crisis and its eventual pursuit of accountability.

Wei is Yen's younger half-brother whom Ai-Lee leaves outside the grocery store, precipitating Yen's crisis and later her attempt to shield him. He represents innocence and the cost of neglect, but also a bond that motivates Yen to change. As he becomes the focus of care from Yen and Cheng, his fate underscores themes of abandonment, trust, and hope for a better future.

Cheng is a former classmate who agrees to care for Wei, bridging Yen's past and present. His father's disapproval adds a layer of social pressure, highlighting family expectations and economic strain. Cheng acts as a practical ally in Yen's reintegration and Wei's safety, illustrating how friendship and obligation intersect in difficult times.

The drama teacher at the community college assigns diverse costumes and guides the students through emotional performances. She pushes Allie to embrace a difficult mourning cloth scene, catalyzing Yen's self-awareness and healing. Her influence shows how mentorship and creative education can unlock courage and help characters face painful memories.