SYNOPSIS:

Chhay, a Cambodian refugee living in Sydney’s Western Suburbs with his wife Sothea and daughter Julie, works long hours as a chef and barely leaves the kitchen outside of crafting and practicing the art of Shadow puppetry - a tradition handed down to him through generations.

On the eve of Khmer New Year and during his daughter’s birthday, he is called to perform for the local temple where he is scouted by a television station to perform on a television show that specialises in extraordinary stories centering on immigrant stories. Chhay is initially hesitant, until he notices his daughter is enraptured by the show. Desperate to connect with his daughter, he decides to go on national television to present his artistry. The interview initially seems to be going well, until the khmer rouge is mentioned.

Chhay begins to remember mid-performance, his dark past in 1975 - he was once a Khmer Rouge youth who caught his own father stealing rice and made a fatal choice to inform on his own father. The guilt causes him to derail his own performance during the recording.

Wracked with guilt, he reveals the truth to his daughter who finally begins to unravel the mystery of her absent, tortured father.