Legacy of Sins

Directors:

Writers:

PakShing Chow

PakShing Chow, BEDE Yuan

Producers:

PakShing Chow

Run Time:

0:14:30

Awarded for the following Category(s):

Awarded Category(s)

Lee grew up under the strict control of his father, eventually becoming an introverted and outdated modern cowboy. His father kept him confined to their hometown, forbidding him from leaving and, especially, from going to Los Angeles, where his mother lived. As his father was being ravaged by cancer and nearing the end of his life, he finally decided to let go and allow Lee to pursue his own path. He handed Lee a letter that not only contained his long-hidden expectations and love but also revealed his true identity. The father hoped that Lee would go to Los Angeles to transfer his control over him to an old friend—a dangerous gangster who lived there. Lee, together with his mute girlfriend who grew up with him, decided to embark on a journey with the letter, exploring a new world while also trying to unravel the mysteries his father left behind and find his own spiritual redemption.

Submitter Statement

We are a group of film school graduates who have come together to the United States for our education and pursue our passion for filmmaking. Our collective aim is to create films that resonate deeply with audiences, offering emotional and thought-provoking experiences that evolve with the viewer’s age and life stage.

Though our experience has primarily been with student projects, this short film marks our first professional endeavor in Los Angeles. It represents a significant step in our journey toward becoming filmmakers who can confidently and proudly claim their place in the industry. We view this project as the foundation upon which we will build our future, striving to create films that leave a lasting impact on those who watch them.

This short film delves into the intricate and often contradictory relationship between love and control. At its core is the story of Lee, a young cowboy whose life has been indelibly shaped by the harsh and oppressive influence of his father. Following his parents' divorce, Lee's father, driven by a desire to protect and control, forbids him from leaving their isolated desert town or traveling to Los Angeles, where his mother resides. This well-intentioned love, however, becomes a prison that stifles Lee's growth and limits his understanding of the world beyond his small community.

As his father succumbs to cancer, Lee is finally permitted to leave the desert town, but only on the condition that he delivers a letter to an old friend of his father's in Los Angeles—a man involved with the mob. This final act, seemingly granting Lee freedom, is laced with tragic irony: instead of equipping Lee for the challenges of the world, his father's love leaves him unprepared and vulnerable, pushing him toward a perilous future.

Accompanied by his mute girlfriend, who shares the emotional scars of their upbringing, Lee embarks on a journey to Los Angeles. Unconsciously, he begins to mirror his father's controlling behavior toward his girlfriend. However, through this journey and the guidance of his father's old friend, Lee starts to confront his deepest spiritual dilemmas. In the end, he successfully breaks free from the confines of this distorted "love," paving the way for a brighter future for both himself and his girlfriend.

The primary aim of this film is to explore how love, though seemingly beautiful, can become a form of bondage or even a poison. Through the narrative, I seek to illustrate the complexity of love in its various forms—be it the bond between father and son, the romantic relationship between lovers, or the friendship between a father and his friend’s son. While love, in its true form, should not be faulted, it is crucial to be aware of the potential harm it can cause if not expressed with care.

We designed the protagonist's father as an assassin and his father's friend as a mobster primarily to better emphasize the element of ‘violence’ and to more exaggeratedly convey the underlying concept of this violence.

Key Cast

Brendan O Malley

Other Credits