Papa
Movie Details:
| Original title | 爸爸 (Cantonese) |
| Also known as | Ba Ba お父さん (Japanese) |
| Country | Hong Kong |
| Language | Cantonese |
| Genres | Biography, Crime, Family, Drama |
| Release date | October 31, 2024 (Tokyo International Film Festival, Japan) November 10, 2024 (closing film, Hong Kong Asian Film Festival, Hong Kong) December 5, 2024 (Hong Kong) |
| Running time | 2hr 11min |
| Starring | Sean Lau, Jo Koo, Dylan So |
| Directed by | Philip Yung |
| Written by | Philip Yung |
| Produced by | Amy Chin |
| Cinematography by | Chin Ting Chang |
| Edited by | Jojo Shek |
| Music by | Ding Ke |
| Costume Design by | Dora Ng |
| Production Company | The Book of a Play |
| Distributor | Golden Scene |
| Budget | HKD$7,246,400 |
Cast & Characters:
- Sean Lau as Yuen, a father whose wife and sister were murdered by his son
- Jo Koo as Yin, Wing-nin’s wife
- Dylan So as Ming, Wing-nin’s son
- Lainey Hung as Grace, Wing-nin’s daughter
- Lai-wun Chan
- Wing-Cheong Law
- Yuk Ying Tam
- Wai Lun Yeung
- Jennifer Yu
Storyline:
The 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.
About Movie:
Papa (Chinese: 爸爸) is based on a real-life 2010 murder case and follows the life of a father (Sean Lau) after his mentally unstable son (So) murders the rest of their family.
After producing the legal drama The Sparring Partner (2022), Philip Yung faced financial difficulties and directed the low-budget Chinese romance film Penny Pinchers (2024) to recover. He returned to Hong Kong afterward to direct Papa.
In June 2022, Papa received approval from the Hong Kong Film Development Council with a budget of HKD$7,246,400 under the Film Production Financing Scheme. Amy Chin produced the film, with Sean Lau and Jo Koo in lead roles.
Principal photography began in March 2023, with Sean Lau filming on March 17 and Jennifer Yu joining the cast. Filming wrapped by mid-2023, and the first cut was completed by September.
The film was showcased by Screen International among 14 Asian films for festival directors in January 2024. A teaser poster was released on September 25, announcing its premiere at the Tokyo International Film Festival.
Papa premiered in competition at the 37th Tokyo International Film Festival on October 31, 2024, and will close the 21st Hong Kong Asian Film Festival on November 10, 2024.
The film was released in Hong Kong on December 5, 2024.