a typical story.
Esther, a 50-year-old Chinese immigrant mother, wife, and hair salon owner, lives a life stretched thin—between an inattentive husband, ungrateful children, and a job that leaves her physically and emotionally drained. After a long day derailed by a minor car accident and her family's continued indifference, Esther collapses from exhaustion—only to wake up in her childhood bedroom, 30 years in the past. Confronted by a younger version of her husband and the echoes of a life not yet lived, Esther stands at the crossroads of fate, wondering if this is a dream, a second chance, or something in between.
Director’s statement
“paper Houses” is a personal story inspired by women like my mother— warriors whose sacrifices often go unseen. I wanted to tell a story about the invisible toll of being everything to everyone in the process of losing yourself to it all. If given the chance to go back and change the trajectory of your life, would you do it despite losing everything you’ve built? Or would you face the present and live as you have? The past isn't just a place—it’s a question mark.
— Fiona Huynh
