Heartwarming and inspirational: 'Shed Skin Papa' film release

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The Hong Kong comedy-drama film “Shed Skin Papa” directed by Roy Szeto has been released on March 23. Leading actors and actress are three big names in Chinese film industry: Francis Ng, Louis Koo and Jessie Li. Heartwarming and inspirational are the two key words of audiences’ feedback.

The film depicts a story about a washed-out and debt-ridden film director (Louis Koo) and his 79-year-old father (Francis Ng) who suffers dementia. The father suddenly stars to shed layers of skin like cicada, and each time of shedding, he looks 10 years younger.

The crew being interwed at the Tokyo International Film Festival /Sohu Photo‍

As the father’s age approaches his son's, they bond again at a football stadium where they used to spend weekends together. The son was able to see what his father went through and how he struggled to make a better life for the family.

Jessie Li, who was considered the black horse winning the Hong Kong Film Awards plays the mother, who is the bridge connecting the father and the son. Being 23 years younger than Louis Koo, Li says it doesn’t seem discordant, since her character is presented as a time-jumper.

Still of 'Shed Skin Papa" /Sohu Photo

The father played by Francis Ng and the son played by Louis Koo are both “nobody” living in the crowded building in Hong Kong, and the down-to-earth story about them is what the commercial films lack of.

Roy Szeto said: “Family values seem falling apart these years in big cities and hope the ‘Shed Skin Papa’ can make people cherish family again.”