In Praise of Teachers

All clothes have a story to tell. Ma was about to close the Angela laundry shop for the day when Shum appeared. A young man with a head injury and handful of dirty clothes from his stay at the street during the Umbrella Movement, Shum needs his clothes washed. Full of passion for the social cause, Shum initially chided Ma for staying in the comfort of the shop. However, these two strangers slowly opened up to each other when a number of characters passed by the shop, revealing the tumultuous world behind Ma’s stoic silence. Shum also gained new insight on meaningfulness, which exists not only within a worthy cause but also at seemingly abandoned clothes.

The traditional image of a father is full of masculine charm—strong, brave, and proud—with the male eagle as its symbol. In the post-modern understanding of gender roles, how has the totem animal of a father evolved? Joan returns to Hong Kong to play matchmaker for her father, who happens to be afflicted by a foot injury and is taken care of by the mysterious Kit. Moreover, her father keeps avoiding her matchmaking attempts, leading Joan to suspect that he and Kit are harbouring a secret from her. Award-winning stage actor Simon LO teams up with What If (2025) actors Ernesto DE SOUSA and NG Wing-sze in this magical realist short film about family. The director fills the film with animal symbolism, adding a touch of colour to the gender spectrum.

People may say the wedding vow of having and holding each other “in sickness and in health”, but commitment is often tested. Emma takes her husband Ivan who is suffering from brain disorder to a distant beachside. Under the facade of camping, she contemplates something sinister, but is overwhelmed by memories of the husband before the illness kicked in, the sanctity of life, and the merits of mercy killing. Torn by emotions, she doubts her own intention.

High school student Faye leads a lonesome life, being bullied at school and her family living abroad. She keeps a distance from people, including her classmate Yiu whom she secretly admires. Yearning for love and desperate to break away from her mundane life, Faye becomes a part-time girlfriend named “Sushi”. A delicate dish on the sushi conveyor belt, Faye is coveted and manipulated by the assortment of men who seek her services. Her life is further complicated when Yiu suddenly confesses his affection for her on the phone. Navigating the tumultuous journey of love, will Faye finally be able to lift herself up, take the lead and find her way?