The Tree Behind the Zigzag Sign

Parco writes a plea letter for his younger brother Rico, arrested for his role in the 2019 Hong Kong protests. The process stirs memories of Parco’s own 2014 arrest and their emotional distance. Before Rico’s sentence, the brothers share a rare moment of connection and plan to document prison life. Parco moves abroad before Rico’s release. The family sells their home, preparing to emigrate. On a final trip to Japan, Rico briefly experiences freedom, while Parco is wrongly arrested. As the family prepares to leave Hong Kong, Parco reads his letter one last time, confronting questions of fear, freedom, and identity—as a Hongkonger and a brother.