Papa 学爸 China, 2023, colour, 2.35:1, 117 mins. Director: Su Liang 苏亮. Rating: 5/10. A working-class widower becomes obsessed with his young son’s education in this light drama with a serious message. STORY A city in Sichuan province, southwest China, 2015. Thanks to a personal connection with an official (Wang Xun) in the registration department, … Continue reading Review: Papa (2023) →
Sep 23, 2023 • Subscribe
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