“The visual ambiguities of puppet theater suggest that we do not yet know the dimensions and limits of what we call life.” (Kenneth Gross)

Filmmakers Yang Sun (China) and S. Leo Chiang (USA) follow Chinese photographer and artist Maleonn as he embarks on the creation of his first puppet theatre project titled Papa’s Time Machine and dedicated to his father Ma Ke who in his time had been a successful Peking Opera director. While Maleonn works against the clock, his father, struck by Alzheimer’s disease, slowly gets lost in time. Thus, the construction of Papa’s Time Machine becomes more and more important for the son who tries to save their shared memories.
With great dramaturgical and visual competence, the filmmakers use the story of Maleonn’s ambitious and costly theatre production to carve out the touching portrait of a father-son-relationship that reveals two strong-willed artists who, against all proclamations of their difference, have a lot in common.

(abe, DokuArts)