I want to talk about Trinh’ films. Firstly, ‘Reassemblage’ is a non-linear institution and monologue that challenges narrative conventions. Although, Trinh’s lens achieved radical objectivity. By incorporating her own consciousness into the filmmaking process, she uses the ‘speaking nearby’ method to fill a gap. She does not directly show the daily life of the villagers but rather floats through the form, avoiding the clear attribution of ethnographic practice altogether.
In addition, Surname Viet Given Name Nam (1989) is a collage film. she refers to the concept of ‘we’ and thinks about it on multiple levels, both theoretically and formally. Although the film does not have an explicit theme, the way it is presented and portrayed shifts perspective. The concept of ‘I’ is considered from an Emic perspective, changing the narrative. ‘Speaking nearby’ becomes a way of expressing respect. And the documentary is decentered.
