Hair, Paper, Water...

Hair, Paper, Water...
Promotional poster
VietnameseTóc, Giấy và Nước...
Directed by
Produced by
  • Julie Freres
  • Thomas Hakim
  • Julien Graff
Starring
  • Cao Thị Hậu
  • Cao Xuân Doanh
  • Cao Thị Hiệu
  • Cao Thị Bát
CinematographyNicolas Graux
Edited byTrương Minh Quý
Music byMichael Stearns
Production
companies
  • Dérives
  • Petit Chaos
  • Lagi Films
Release date
  • 14 August 2025 (2025-08-14) (Locarno)
Running time
71 minutes
Countries
  • Belgium
  • France
  • Vietnam
Languages

Hair, Paper, Water... (Vietnamese: Tóc, Giấy và Nước...) is a 2025 documentary film written and directed by Belgian filmmaker Nicolas Graux and Vietnamese director Trương Minh Quý. The film shot on 16mm is a series of 'snapshots' of the life of an elderly Rục lady and her large extended family with a focus on capturing moments and memories.[1] The Rục people were first contacted in 1959, and numbered 580 individuals living in 144 households as of April 2022.[2]

The film had its world premiere at the 78th Locarno Film Festival on 14 August 2025, in the Filmmakers of the Present Competition section, where it won Golden Leopard – Filmmakers of the Present.[3] It competed in Official Competition at the 2025 BFI London Film Festival on 11 October 2025.[4]

Synopsis

The documentary follows Cao Thị Hậu, an elderly woman of the Rục people who was born in a cave and now lives with her extended family in rural Vietnam. As she cares for younger generations, she teaches them words from the endangered Rục language and shares knowledge connected to her community’s way of life. Her present-day routines are interwoven with memories of the past, including dreams of her deceased mother and recollections of the cave she once regarded as home. Through scenes of family life, work and the surrounding landscape, the film examines the fragile transfer of language, memory and cultural identity from one generation to the next.

Cast

  • Cao Thị Hậu
  • Cao Xuân Doanh
  • Cao Thị Hiệu
  • Cao Thị Bát

Production

The film was shot on a vintage Bolex camera over three years. It is produced by Julie Freres at Dérives and Petit Chaos, with co-production from WIP and Lagi films. It received support from Centre du Cinéma et de l’Audiovisuel de la Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles, Ciclic Région Centre-Val de Loire, Procirep, Angoa, Media, Wallonie, Pictanovo, and Brouillon d’un rêve de la Scam.[5]

Release

Hair, Paper, Water... had its world premiere in the 'Filmmakers of the Present Competition' section of the 78th Locarno Film Festival on 9 August 2025, vying for the Golden Leopard – Filmmakers of the Present.[6] It was also showcased in the Wide Angle: Documentary Showcase section of the 30th Busan International Film Festival on 20 September 2025.[7] It also made it to the Currents Selections of the 2025 New York Film Festival, where it had its United States Premiere on 30 September 2025.[8][9]

It was also selected to compete in the Official Competition section of the 2025 BFI London Film Festival for the best film award and had screening on 11 October 2025.[10][11]

The film was screened in the Les nouveaux alchimistes for its Canadian Premiere at the 2025 Festival du nouveau cinéma on 13 October 2025,[12] and in International Perspective at the São Paulo International Film Festival on 19 October 2025.[13]

It was screened in the 'Alchemies Section' of the 70th Valladolid International Film Festival on 30 October 2025.[14] It was presented in 'Mission Life - 2025' section of the 56th International Film Festival of India in November 2025.[15] It competed in the 20th Jogja-NETPAC Asian Film Festival on 2 December 2025.[16]

It was screened at CPH:DOX, the Copenhagen International Documentary Film Festival on 7 March 2026 in Artists & Auteurs section,[17] and on 9 June 2026 as part of the DocuDays UA International Human Rights Documentary Film Festival in Docu Best section.[18] On 23 July it competed in the New Horizons International Competition for Grand Prix at the New Horizons Film Festival.[19]

On 16 August 2026, it will be screened in the Melbourne International Film Festival in Doc Visions Program Strand for its Victorian Premiere.[20]

The international sales of the film is managed by the Italian distribution company Lights On, who have acquired the international rights in July 2025.[21]

Reception

In his review at Locarno, Marc van de Klashorst of the International Cinephile Society rated the film with 3.5 stars out of five, writing that the "film’s gorgeous 16mm photography might lure a wider group of people." Concluding his review Klashorst opined that since there are only a few hundred Rục left "the film will be all that lasts as a memory of a culture, and for that we have to thank Truong and Graux."[22] David Katz of Cineuropa praised Graux and Trương for co-directing a "pensively beautiful documentary miniature".[23]

Accolades

The film was shortlisted for nomination to 2026 European Film Awards in documentary film category. The award ceremony will take place on 17 January 2026.[24]

Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient Result Ref.
Locarno Film Festival 16 August 2025 Golden Leopard – Filmmakers of the Present Hair, Paper, Water... Won [25]
Pardo Verde: Special Mentions Won [26]
BFI London Film Festival 19 October 2025 Best Film Nominated [27]
Valladolid International Film Festival 1 November 2025 Green Spike Award: Honourable Mention Won [28]

References

  1. ^ Graux, Nicolas (14 August 2025). "Hair, Paper, Water..." Cineuropa. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
  2. ^ Tran Tan Dang Long (26 July 2024). "Cultural Changes of the Rục Community in Minh Hóa District, Quảng Bình Province, Vietnam". International Journal of Advanced Multidisciplinary Research and Studies. 4 (4): 686–691. doi:10.62225/2583049X.2024.4.4.3092.
  3. ^ Balaga, Marta (16 August 2025). "Sho Miyake's 'Two Seasons, Two Strangers' Wins at Locarno". Variety. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
  4. ^ Tabbara, Mona (3 September 2025). "BFI London Film Festival unveils 2025 line-up". ScreenDaily. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
  5. ^ Ntim, Zac (14 August 2025). "Truong Minh Quy And Nicolas Graux On The Story Behind Their Locarno Title 'Hair, Paper, Water…' & How Technological Shifts Are Affecting Filmmaking: "The Language Of Cinema Has Changed"". Deadline. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
  6. ^ Balaga, Marta (8 July 2025). "Radu Jude, Abdellatif Kechiche Head to Locarno as Swiss Fest Announces Lineup: An 'Ambitious and Exciting Edition'". Variety. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
  7. ^ "Selection List: Wide Angle, Documentary Showcase". BIFF. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
  8. ^ Zilko, Christian (7 August 2025). "NYFF Reveals 2025 Currents Lineup, Including New Films by Tsai Ming-liang and Radu Jude". IndieWire. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
  9. ^ "Hair, Paper, Water… in 63rd New York Film Festival". Film at Lincoln Center. 9 September 2025. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
  10. ^ Boyce, Laurence (4 September 2025). "The BFI London Film Festival lifts the lid on the titles for its 69th edition". Cineuropa. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
  11. ^ "Hair, Paper, Water..." BFI London Film Festival. 3 September 2025. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
  12. ^ "Hair, Paper, Water..." Festival du Nouveau Cinéma. 23 September 2025. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
  13. ^ "Hair, Paper, Water..." São Paulo International Film Festival. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  14. ^ "Hair, Paper, Water…". Valladolid International Film Festival. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  15. ^ "Mission Life - 2025". International Film Festival of India. 7 November 2025. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
  16. ^ "Hair, Paper, Water..." Jogja-NETPAC Asian Film Festival. Retrieved 16 December 2025.
  17. ^ "Hair, Paper, Water..." CPH:DOX. 7 March 2026. Retrieved 27 July 2026.
  18. ^ "Hair, Paper, Water…". DocuDays UA. 9 June 2026. Retrieved 2 August 2026.
  19. ^ "Hair, Paper, Water…". New Horizons Film Festival. Retrieved 3 August 2026.
  20. ^ "Hair, Paper, Water..." Melbourne International Film Festival. 8 June 2026. Retrieved 27 July 2026.
  21. ^ Ramachandran, Naman (17 July 2025). "Locarno-Bound 'Hair, Paper, Water' Boarded by Lights On for International Sales (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
  22. ^ Marc van de Klashorst (14 August 2025). "Locarno 2025 review: Hair, Paper, Water… (Truong Minh Quý & Nicolas Graux)". International Cinephile Society. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
  23. ^ Katz, David (18 August 2025). "Review: Hair, Paper, Water…". Cineuropa. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
  24. ^ Ntim, Zac (14 October 2025). "'Bugonia', 'On Falling' & 'Sound Of Falling' Among Titles On The European Film Awards Nominations Shortlist". Deadline. Retrieved 15 October 2025.
  25. ^ Del Don, Muriel (9 July 2025). "Locarno announces the films selected for its parallel sections". Cineuropa. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
  26. ^ Georg Szalai (16 August 2025). "Locarno Film Festival Top Award Goes to 'Two Seasons, Two Strangers' by Sho Miyake". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
  27. ^ Ntim, Zac (3 September 2025). "BFI London Film Festival: Chloé Zhao's 'Hamnet' & Kate Moss Biopic 'Moss & Freud' Among Headline Titles — Full List". Deadline. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
  28. ^ Rivera, Alfonso (3 November 2025). "Kelly Reichardt and Lav Diaz share the Golden Spike at Seminci". Cineuropa. Retrieved 3 November 2025.

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