Papa (Chinese: 爸爸) is a 2024 Hong Kong family drama[1] film directed and written by Philip Yung. Starring Sean Lau, Jo Koo, and Dylan So, the film is based on a real-life 2010 murder case and centers on the life of a father (Lau) after the rest of his family is murdered by his mentally unstable son (So).
| Papa | |
|---|---|
 Teaser poster | |
| Directed by | Philip Yung |
| Written by | Philip Yung |
| Produced by | Amy Chin |
| Starring | Sean Lau Jo Koo Dylan So |
| Cinematography | Chin Ting Chang |
| Edited by | Jojo Shek |
| Music by | Ding Ke |
Production company | The Book of a Play |
| Distributed by | Golden Scene |
Release date |
|
Running time | 131 minutes |
| Country | Hong Kong |
| Language | Cantonese |
The film had its world premiere in competition at the 37th Tokyo International Film Festival on 31 October 2024.
Premise
editThe story follows a café owner who experiences a family tragedy when his mentally unstable son murders his mother and sister, while the son is subsequently incarcerated in a psychiatric facility, leaving the father to navigate his life with the weight of survivor guilt.[2][3]
Cast
edit- Sean Lau as Yuen, a father whose wife and sister were murdered by his son[4]
- Jo Koo as Yin, Wing-nin's wife[4]
- Dylan So as Ming, Wing-nin's son[4]
- Lainey Hung as Grace, Wing-nin's daughter[4]
Also starring in the film are Jennifer Yu, Yeung Wai Lun, Helen Tam, Chan Lai-wun, and Law Wing-cheung.[5][6] Edan Lui has a cameo appearance.[7]
Production
editAfter producing the legal drama film The Sparring Partner (2022), Philip Yung found himself in debt and had to make a low-budget Chinese romance film, Penny Pinchers (2024), to repay it while on holiday in 2022.[8] He returned to Hong Kong to helm the project Papa right afterwards,[9] a film he described as a real "Hong Kong film", in contrast to his previous project, which he characterized as a "very mainland Chinese film".[8] In June 2022, Papa was greenlit by the Hong Kong Film Development Council with a budget of HKD$7,246,400 through the Film Production Financing Scheme, with Amy Chin producing and Sean Lau and Jo Koo attaching as the lead cast.[10] Yung teased the production of the project in February 2023,[9][11] describing it as a "small-scale art-house film" and expressing uncertainty about whether it could be released in China.[8][9] The story is based on the 2010 Heung Wo Street Murder, where Kan Ka-leung, who murdered his mother and sister, was convicted in 2012.[12]
Principal photography began in March 2023,[11] with Sean Lau reportedly filming on 17 March 2023 and Jennifer Yu also announced as part of the cast.[5][13] The shoot continued through April.[14] Sean Lau took a hiatus to attend the 41st Hong Kong Film Awards on 16 April before returning to shoot the following day.[15] Filming wrapped up within the first half of the year, and the first cut was completed by September.[16] The film was presented by Screen International alongside 14 Asian films to festival directors in January 2024,[2] and a teaser poster was released on 25 September along with the announcement of its premiere at the Tokyo International Film Festival.[17]
Release
editPapa had its world premiere in competition at the 37th Tokyo International Film Festival,[18][19] on 31 October 2024,[20] and is set to be screened as the closing film of the 21st Hong Kong Asian Film Festival on 10 November 2024.[21][22]
Reception
editRichard Kuipers of Variety praised Papa for being "played in a low key that produces high emotional impact", emphasizing its "great depth and complexity", while highlighting Sean Lau's "terrific performance" and Philip Yung's skillful direction in crafting an emotionally resonant narrative.[4] Jordan Mintzer of The Hollywood Reporter described the film as "well-crafted and intriguing", exploring the aftermath of a horrific crime through themes of guilt and regret while ultimately providing a compelling perspective on the possibility of redemption for a shattered family, despite moments of dramatic frustration.[23]
References
edit- ^ Wong, Silva (11 March 2024). "New filmmaker voices are rising in Hong Kong, but challenges remain". Screen Daily. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
- ^ a b Wong, Silvia; Noh, Jean; Rosser, Michael (19 January 2024). "14 Asian films to tempt festival directors in 2024". Screen Daily. Archived from the original on 21 September 2024. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
- ^ "劉青雲挑戰沉重角色 新片劇本靈感來自「荃灣享和街弒母殺妹案」". East Week (in Chinese). 27 September 2024. Archived from the original on 28 September 2024. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
- ^ a b c d e Kuipers, Richard (2 November 2024). "'Papa' Review: A Moving Study in Grief and Redemption Based on a Shocking Hong Kong Crime Case". Variety. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
- ^ a b "電影導演會頒獎禮｜劉青雲膺最佳男主角 爆老婆郭藹明已冇戲癮". Ming Pao (in Chinese). 17 March 2023. Archived from the original on 24 September 2023. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
- ^ "港產片殺入東京國際電影節 實力派演員演活社會小人物". Entertainment on Line (in Chinese). 26 September 2024. Archived from the original on 28 September 2024. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
- ^ 鄺鈺瑩 (4 November 2024). "叱咤｜Edan客串劉青雲新戲《爸爸》 姜濤隨手寫惹無工開疑雲". HK01 (in Chinese). Retrieved 5 November 2024.
- ^ a b c "風再起時｜翁子光無愧於心 千字文呼籲入場支持香港電影". Ming Pao (in Chinese). 17 February 2023. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
- ^ a b c 紅眼 (25 February 2023). "《風再起時》翁子光專訪：在這個年代，態度與深度，哪個更重要？". Initium Media (in Chinese). Retrieved 28 September 2024.
- ^ "香港電影發展局 資助計劃" (in Chinese). Hong Kong Film Development Council. Archived from the original on 14 August 2024. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
- ^ a b 蔣雨楠 (11 February 2023). "【專訪】《風再起時》導演翁子光：我把小時候夢想的東西給了你". Jiemian News (in Chinese). Retrieved 28 September 2024.
- ^ 許育民 (25 September 2024). "劉青雲《爸爸》改編荃灣享和街弒母殺妹案 代香港出戰東京電影節". HK01 (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 26 September 2024. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
- ^ "劉青雲奪「最佳男主角」大獎 張繼聰寫情歌冧謝安琪". Oriental Daily News (in Chinese). 16 March 2023. Archived from the original on 14 August 2024. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
- ^ 陳釗 (29 April 2023). "楊受成呻《神探大戰》內地審批困難重重 劉青雲奪金像影帝 老婆無獎勵". Ming Pao (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 30 April 2023. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
- ^ 莫匡堯 (17 April 2023). "金像獎2023｜鄭秀文台上漏多謝許志安 青雲笑言拍「右眼見到鬼」". HK01 (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 28 September 2024. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
- ^ Heskins, Andrew (26 September 2023). "Philip Yung interview: "Wong Jing said, 'It seems too arty!'"". EasternKicks.com. Archived from the original on 28 September 2024. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
- ^ "劉青雲主演翁子光新作《爸爸》 時隔6年再有港片入圍角逐「櫻花大獎」 劇本改編自「荃灣享和街弒母殺妹案」". Sing Tao Daily (in Chinese). 25 September 2024. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
- ^ Shackleton, Liz (25 September 2024). "Tokyo Film Festival Unveils Competition Line-up; 'My Favourite Cake' To Screen In Women's Empowerment Section". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 26 September 2024. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
- ^ Brzeski, Patrick (25 September 2024). "Tokyo International Film Festival Unveils Lineup". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 26 September 2024. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
- ^ "Papa". Tokyo International Film Festival. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
- ^ Cheung, Catharina (9 October 2024). "21st Hong Kong Asian Film Festival 2024". Time Out. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
- ^ "第21屆香港亞洲電影節丨日本紅星池松壯亮來港 首設「香港製造」單元力撐港產片". Sing Tao Daily. 27 September 2024. Archived from the original on 28 September 2024. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
- ^ Mintzer, Jordan (31 October 2024). "'Papa' Review: An Unspeakable Crime Tears a Family Apart in an Impressionistic Hong Kong Drama". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 5 November 2024.