Chinese men are 'inscrutable'; none more so than Tony's Dad who works in a Chinese takeaway. Tony is Chinese but has lived in the UK all of his 20 years, during which his Dad has hardly uttered more than a few sentences to him, and never once touched him. It is the Chinese way. Tony has accepted it all his life. However, when Tony's Dad has a near-escape in a car accident, Tony begins to yearn for a deeper, more expressive relationship with him. This is easier said than done as Tony recalls the few occasions on which his Dad has ever spoken to him; his Dad has never wished him a happy birthday in his entire life; he failed to say goodbye when Tony left home at 18, and even neglected to congratulate him on his wedding day! Dad doesn't even utter a word when his wife - Tony's Mum - passes away. Tony wonders if his Dad has any feelings at all. Time finally runs out for them both when his Dad has yet another car accident; this time a fatal one. Thus, Tony has his Dad taken away without ever knowing if he was loved by his own father. But then a crying Girl in a hospital awakens a memory for Tony - playing in a park as a boy when he is bullied by a teenage Girl. His Dad runs to his rescue, furiously dragging the Girl into his car and driving her straight to the police station. En route, Tony is surprised to witness his Dad berate the Girl - a ferocious diatribe from a normally-silent man. At the height of which, Dad reaches over and strikes the Girl - at last, Tony's Dad has touched someone and in so doing, betrays a love for his son!
My Dad the Communist
TONY is a teenager whose 'inscrutable' CHINESE DAD has a near-death experience in a car crash. TONY yearns to break down the cultural barriers between him and his Dad before it's too late.
