THE FILM
TITLE: Grandma & Grandma (Nǎi Nai & Wài Pó)
RELEASE DATE: 11 Mar 2023
WATCH DATE: 09 Mar 2024
TYPE: documentary short film (Taiwanese)
ACCESS: streaming on pixeldrain.com (free file-sharing site)
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THE PEOPLE
DIRECTOR: Sean Wang
PRODUCER: Malcolm Pullinger, Sam Davis, Sean Wang
WRITER: NA
ACTORS: Yi Yan Fuei, Chang Li Hua
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THE STORY
RUNTIME: 17m
STORYLINE: two grandmothers share their day-to-day routines and share their perspectives on life and death
GENRE/THEMES: documentary, family, life and death, aging, day-in-the-life
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THE CRITIQUE
THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS
An odd story of friendship between two Taiwanese grandmas who are related by intermarriage between their extended families. Most of the film is about their normal, daily life, showing their activities and routines. At the very end, they share their thoughts about aging and the approach of death. Their message is to choose joy despite the good days or the hard days. A great message, though not presented very powerfully.
Apparently, this is a special project from the heart by director Sean Wang, featuring his paternal and maternal grandmothers. This was not evident at all, and it confusing having the two grandmothers talk to a third, unseen person as if it was another family member. We only see a third person in just a few shots.
Grandma & Grandma (Nǎi Nai & Wài Pó) feels without context, boring, and uninteresting. If this is a ‘love letter’ from Wang, I think he could have done better. I’m confused as to why 17 minutes of this is up for an Oscar (Documentary Short Film). There MUST be better short documentaries out there than this.
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THE RECEPTION
NOMINATIONS
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THE IMPRESSION
IN A SINGLE WORD: boring
MOST STRIKING ELEMENT: message
REWATCH: no
RATING: 1.5 // 5 stars ⭐⭐
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