Chinaman

In 1989, a Chinese takeaway becomes a battleground for pride and identity as a father and his mixed-race son clash under the weight of grief, generational divide, and the quiet violence of everyday racism.

Overview

In 1989, a tense evening unfolds at a Chinese takeaway run by Wong, a first-generation immigrant, and his two sons: Kenny, rebellious and resentful, and Andy, still impressionable. As the night spirals from petty frustrations to deeper wounds; fueled by family conflict, cultural estrangement, and casual racism; Kenny clashes bitterly with his father before facing a humiliating encounter with a group of drunken bigots. When Wong overhears their hateful accusations, he snaps, erupting in a violent confrontation that leaves him bloodied but unbowed. In the stunned silence that follows, father and son must quietly navigate the cost of pride, silence, and survival.

Production

Iconoclast, Agile Films, BFI