Oscar® Nominated Documentaries: Walk, Run, Cha-Cha
Paul and Millie met in Vietnam at a time when attending a dance party was considered an illegal act, but they didn’t care. He’s an engineer who, after the war ended, made a beeline for the United States. The couple was separated for six years, but Millie eventually joined Paul in California, where she’s currently an auditor. They’re living the American dream, and the plan is to keep their love alive by dancing their way through their Golden Years. One new wrinkle: director Laura Nix shoots her subjects in closeup, but instead of talking heads, she presents telepathic heads: their lips are sealed, their words presented in voiceover. The romance is palpable, and there’s even a musical number of sorts. Look, it’s a nice little film, the type one would expect to find on PBS when they have time to fill between reruns of Antiques Roadshow. But never in one’s wildest imagination should featherweight, well-intentioned sentiment such as this be construed as award-worthy. Produced by the New York Times. — Scott Marks