Nicolas Graux and Minh Quy Truong's 'Hair, Paper, Water…' Explores Vanishing Ethnic Culture in Vietnam

French-Vietnamese filmmakers Nicolas Graux and Minh Quy Truong have created a new film titled 'Hair, Paper, Water…' that offers an impressionistic portrait of Cao Thi Hâu, an elderly woman from a vanishing ethnic group in Vietnam. The film captures her efforts to transmit her cultural heritage to her grandson, set against the backdrop of the caves near which they live. The work is noted for its poetic and sensory approach, blending documentary and experimental elements. The film was featured in Le Monde's culture section on September 9, 2026, highlighting its significance in contemporary cinema. The project underscores the urgency of preserving intangible cultural heritage as traditional ways of life face extinction. The filmmakers' collaboration brings a cross-cultural perspective to the subject, emphasizing the delicate interplay between memory, tradition, and the natural environment.