Hair, Paper, Water...


Hair, Paper, Water... 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. The Rục people were first contacted in 1959, and numbered 580 individuals living in 144 households as of April 2022.
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. It competed in Official Competition at the 2025 BFI London Film Festival on 11 October 2025.
WWW Official Site

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.

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. It was also showcased in the Wide Angle: Documentary Showcase section of the 30th Busan International Film Festival on 20 September 2025. 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.
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.
The film was screened in the Les nouveaux alchimistes for its Canadian Premiere at the 2025 Festival du nouveau cinéma on 13 October 2025, and in International Perspective at the São Paulo International Film Festival on 19 October 2025.
It was screened in the 'Alchemies Section' of the 70th Valladolid International Film Festival on 30 October 2025. It was presented in 'Mission Life - 2025' section of the 56th International Film Festival of India in November 2025. It competed in the 20th Jogja-NETPAC Asian Film Festival on 2 December 2025.
The international sales of the film is managed by the Italian distribution company Lights On, who have acquired the international rights in July 2025.

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." David Katz of Cineuropa praised Graux and Trương for co-directing a "pensively beautiful documentary miniature".

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.
AwardDate of ceremonyCategoryRecipientResult
Locarno Film Festival16 August 2025Golden Leopard – Filmmakers of the PresentHair, Paper, Water...Won
Locarno Film Festival16 August 2025Pardo Verde: Special MentionsHair, Paper, Water...Won
BFI London Film Festival19 October 2025Best FilmHair, Paper, Water...Nomitated
Valladolid International Film Festival1 November 2025Green Spike Award: Honourable MentionHair, Paper, Water...Won