Walk, Run, Cha-Cha Review

The Vietnam War wasn’t just an important event in American history. It was also a life-changing experience for those living in Vietnam. Many from the losing side became refugees in their own country and had to flee for hopes of a better life. Paul and Millie Cao are amongst those people. They fled separately and rekindled their love after reuniting in California. Walk, Run, Cha-Cha is a short documentary that chronicles this heartfelt story as the two of them rediscover life through a common interest in dance. It’s not a refugee-immigrant story in its conventional sense. It doesn’t focus on the pains and struggles of being separated from one’s soil, but instead tells a warm tale of these two people who have grown old together after moving away from their home, and how dance serves as a way for them to strengthen their bond and navigate unexplored emotions.

Now nominated in the short film category at the 92nd Academy Awards, this film has certainly made a strong impact on the American people. In American history, the Vietnam war has always been seen as a source of suffering for American soldiers, but rarely has the fight between the various groups in Vietnam been elaborated upon. This film shows that Americans were not the only ones to face difficulties due to this war. But more than that, it highlights a beautiful immigrant story, in which the pain was only limited to the initial separation. In a short span of 24 minutes, a variety of emotions are experienced. The viewer is sucked into a world of hope, creation, love, and life. The Cao’s recount how they created a new life for themselves, grew accustomed to a new way of life, and never lost the furor of their love as they grew older and reignited their combined passion for dance.

The individuals in this film are not seasoned actors playing characters. They are telling their own story through their own words and their own emotions. Yet, their narration can be considered no less than acting. They know exactly how to use the dynamics of their voice and the elegance of pauses to convey the dramatics of what they had experienced. Paul and Millie Cao’s storytelling prowess can also be accredited to the director of the film who knew exactly how to position their story in order to appeal to the emotional side of the audience.

Director Laura Nix is no amateur in this style of filmmaking. A veteran filmmaker with decades of experience in short documentary filmmaking, Nix knows how to touch the right chords by highlighting the most simple aspects of humanity. Her expertise shows in her ability to convey meaning without word. Even though the Cao’s are narrating their story, they are barely seen speaking. Most of the film is dedicated to either footage of them dancing or them in their natural habitats. It would be a mistake to label this footage as candid as the individuals in the film are clearly aware of the camera invading their space. But the projection is meant to portray spontaneity. Just as dance is focused and quick, yet spontaneous, so is the film.

In this film, dance isn’t just a passion for the Cao’s. It is also a narrative tool that is weaved into the story. The music and dance movement is interleaved with the story. The dance beats function as beats in the narrative. With a beautiful understanding of music and the artistic nature of dance, Nix seamlessly allows the plot to flow along with the dance. The emotional flurry is built through the intensity of the dance. As the Cao’s progress in their journey, narrating their vast story, the dance in the film gains momentum, thus ending the film with a complete dance performance, signifying the completion of the journey called life.

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