The 1997 British handover of Hong Kong to China prompted the Sung family, like many others, to immigrate to Canada. Relinquishing his father’s tailoring business in Repulse Bay, Tommy Sung, along with his wife Connie and their sons, came to Toronto in 1996 in search of a better future.
Previously focused on creating Western-style dress that catered to wealthy British patrons, the Sungs have continued to tailor over the last 20 years, making cheongsam and predominantly Chinese-style wear for the Chinese diaspora in Toronto. The Last Stitch highlights the everyday details of the family business in tender emotional beats, juxtaposing contemporary scenes of the Sungs’ life with archival family videos and photos, presenting evolving ideas of home and homeland across three generations. These perspectives bear gentle witness to the different seasons of life that families continually experience, while illustrating how some concerns change and others stay the same.
Sung deftly weaves intergenerational perspectives in his finely crafted documentary to offer a heartwarming and deeply personal look at the legacy and impact of the family’s tailoring business that is sure to resonate with audiences.
– JG