The Story of My Son

Li Tzu-Liang returns to Hong Kong carrying his wife's ashes and the heavy job of raising their two sons alone. He appears financially comfortable at first, but hidden debts shadow his household. After losing a large sum on horse racing bets, he borrows from dangerous loan-sharks, and what begins as a single bad decision pulls his family deeper into legal and moral trouble. The film follows the family's unraveling through tense domestic scenes and escalating threats, showing how grief, pride, and bad luck complicate daily life without revealing any final twists.

Released in 1990, the movie was directed by Johnnie To and created by Wai Ka-Fai, with Damian Lau, Cheng Pak-Lam, Wong Kwan-Yuen, Louise Lee, and Richard Ng among the cast. It stands as an early dramatic effort in To's career.

Commercial records for the film aren't widely available, and it didn't generate widely reported box office milestones. Any financial performance appears modest and is not commonly cited in mainstream box office histories.

Critical responses were mixed, with reviewers noting strong performances from the cast and a steady, unflashy approach to grim family drama. The film centers on themes of paternal responsibility, the corrosive effects of debt, and how private grief can push ordinary people toward risky choices. Some viewers appreciated the realistic tone and moral ambiguity the story presents.

While not a major classic, the movie is of interest to fans of Hong Kong cinema and Johnnie To's work, since it shows him handling intimate domestic material rather than crime action. It hasn't produced widely quoted lines or iconic scenes in popular culture, but it remains a useful reference point for those tracing To's development as a director and for audiences who prefer character-driven dramas that focus on family strain and ethical compromise.