Papa

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Papa

Released Mar 14

2h 10m

Biography

Drama

Crime

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6 Reviews

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Fewer than 50 Ratings

Café owner Nin's mundane but contented life is shattered forever when his fifteen-year-old son Ming slashes his mother and younger sister to death one evening. Diagnosed with acute schizophrenia, Ming is remanded to a psychiatric prison indefinitely until full recovery. Aside from visiting his son twice a month, Nin continues to lead a pedestrian existence, while memories of his wife, daughter, and son keep flooding into his head. As time passes, Nin has given up on knowing the reason behind the misfortune. He only wishes that one fine day, Ming, his sole remaining family but also the murderer of his family, will come home again.

Wendy Ide

Observer (UK)

The film turns from being a psychologically astute account of dealing with the aftermath of unimaginable trauma to a ghoulish countdown to the attack itself. A wasted opportunity.

Rated: 2/5

Mar 3, 2025

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Cath Clarke

Guardian

Should he feel responsible? Could he have prevented the tragedy? Papa is perhaps too nuanced and low-key to try to answer these questions fully. At the heart of it is Lau’s naturalistic performance.

Rated: 3/5

Feb 25, 2025

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Jordan Mintzer

The Hollywood Reporter

Lau, who starred in Johnnie To’s Mad Detective, perfectly encapsulates a character who faces horrific challenges with utter stoicism, although you can sense that he’s burning inside.

Nov 6, 2024

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Carla Hay

Culture Mix

Papa is a beautifully filmed and heart-wrenching drama about a widower coping with his son murdering the father's wife and daughter. Some viewers won't like the timeline jumping, but this drama is an impactful portrait of grief and mental illness.

Mar 16, 2025

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Whang Yee Ling

The Straits Times (Singapore)

Lau is shattering, heading an excellent ensemble in a wrenching story of a family destroyed by a violent act.

Rated: 4/5

Mar 5, 2025

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Edmund Lee

South China Morning Post

While the film may disappoint those who are attracted to it solely by its true-crime roots, Papa leaves an indelible impression as a psychologically complex tale of unconditional family love, beautifully narrated around an impossibly macabre twist.

Rated: 4/5

Dec 4, 2024

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Ben W

Incredible. Honestly.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/18/25

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David P

I thought it was very thought provoking. A slow burn for sure, but worth a watch.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/17/25

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Moody C

Great acting and directing but story just plain depressing. Not really good escapism.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/18/25

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Philip Yung

Director

Ching Wan Lau

Yuen Wing-nin

Jo Koo

Kam Yin

Chan Fai-Hung

Actor

Moon-Yuen Cheung

Actor

Amy Chum

Actor

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Synopsis

Café owner Nin's mundane but contented life is shattered forever when his fifteen-year-old son Ming slashes his mother and younger sister to death one evening. Diagnosed with acute schizophrenia, Ming is remanded to a psychiatric prison indefinitely until full recovery. Aside from visiting his son twice a month, Nin continues to lead a pedestrian existence, while memories of his wife, daughter, and son keep flooding into his head. As time passes, Nin has given up on knowing the reason behind the misfortune. He only wishes that one fine day, Ming, his sole remaining family but also the murderer of his family, will come home again.

Director: Philip Yung
Screenwriter: Philip Yung
Distributor: Illume Films
Production Co: Film Development Fund of Hong Kong, Golden Scene
Genre: Biography, Drama, Crime
Original Language: Chinese
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 14, 2025, Limited
Runtime: 2h 10m