Adapted from the shocking Hong Kong case 'Tsuen Wan Heung Wo Street Matricide and Fratricide Incident', the film 'Papa' directed and written by the Hong Kong Film Award-winning director Philip Yung, stars Sean Lau, Karena Lam, Ng Chun Yip, and Wong Man Piu. The film is set to hit Malaysian cinemas on June 12. It focuses on a father's emotional struggle and redemption following a family tragedy, deeply poignant and resonant, especially around Father's Day, making it a must-see touching work of the year.
Since its inception, 'Papa' has attracted significant attention, not only being shortlisted in the main competition of the '37th Tokyo International Film Festival' for its world premiere but also being showcased at the Udine Far East Film Festival in Italy for viewing and discussion. Moreover, it clinched three awards at the '43rd Hong Kong Film Awards' for Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress, and Best New Performer, gaining significant momentum. Following the standing of 'Port of Call', a drama based on a murder case, director Philip Yung again draws from a real tragic murder case to craft this emotionally tense and discussion-worthy piece, exploring the subtle warmth and depths of human nature.
With a script 10 years in the making, 'Papa' is inspired by the 2010 notorious case in Hong Kong where a 15-year-old schizophrenic teenager committed matricide and fratricide. After the act, the son, suffering from schizophrenia, voluntarily turned himself in, leaving his father to face endless grief and turmoil alone. However, the film does not focus on the gore and horror but tells the survivor father's story from his perspective, bearing the loss of his wife and daughter, and the complex emotions towards his son, struggling to survive and seek redemption amidst the interweaving of reality and memories.
'Papa' sees Sean Lau leading as the soul character, with his superb acting, he finely portrays the dual identities of the 'victim's family' and the 'perpetrator's family', vividly displaying the differences and psychological changes in life before and after the crime. In seemingly plain daily life, he reveals a man's helplessness and resilience, learning to reconnect with himself and his son, delivering perhaps the 'most heartbreaking performance' of his career, garnering wide acclaim.
Despite having no children in real life, he expressed that filming 'Papa' has been a journey of growth, gradually understanding a father's emotional journey. On set, he frequently observed the actors playing his children, Ng Chun Yip and Wong Man Piu, growing closer like a family with deepening interactions, resulting in many impromptu dialogues and performances that, without deliberate sentiment, seem more authentically touching, directly reaching the heart.
Newcomer Ng Chun Yip, in his first film appearance, portrays the son of Sean Lau. Despite being only 16 years old during shooting, his naturally pure performance has received high praise, also winning the 'Best New Performer' award at the 'Hong Kong Film Directors' Guild Annual Awards' and '43rd Hong Kong Film Awards', delivering a stunning performance.
This year's most emotionally impactful heartwarming film 'Papa' is introduced and distributed by Lotus Five Star and Five Star AV, presented in collaboration with Jazzy Pictures, and promoted by Infinity Entertainment Marketing, premiering in all Malaysian cinemas on June 12.