As the son of Robert Nakamura, it seems natural that filmmaker Tadashi Nakamura would tell the story of his father’s life and career. Robert—a pioneer in Asian American media—directed such radical films as Something Strong Within and Hito Hata: Raise the Banner, many of which were influenced by his childhood experiences as a prisoner in a Japanese internment camp during WWII. A year into filming together, Robert is diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, and Tadashi must grapple with his father’s declining health while excavating a little-discussed chapter of his family’s history. Tadashi’s concern and affection is evident in the film’s patient lens and creates an indelible document of his father’s legacy; but at its heart, Third Act is a father-son story that navigates the meanings of both fatherhood and filmmaking as it examines four generations of Japanese Americans and the trauma caused by this still-largely unprocessed American tragedy.  KL

Q&A following screening.