Oscar nominated documentary short “Nǎi Nai and Wài Pó,” about two Asian grandmothers, is set to debut on Disney+ and Hulu in February, and here is what you need to know.
The Details
“Nǎi Nai and Wài Pó” is a multigenerational story that celebrates first-generation Taiwanese-American filmmaker Sean Wang’s two grandmothers, and features dialogue in both Mandarin and English.
The 17-minute film follows the daily, often humorous, lives of his elderly maternal and paternal grandmothers who are best friends and live together. Wang began filming his grandmothers in 2021 when he lived with them for a brief stint between a move from New York City to Los Angeles.
The film premiered at the SXSW film festival, where it took home the Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award. Since then, it has gone on to receive Grand Jury Awards at AFI Fest and SIFF 2023, a slot on the IDA Shortlist and Special Jury Recognition at LAAPFF 2023, among other accolades.
Disney Branded Television acquired the documentary in 2023, intending it to be the first installment of Disney’s “People and Places” relaunch, a revival of Walt Disney’s documentary film series in the 1950s and 1960s.
“‘Nǎi Nai and Wài Pó’ embodies the essence of Walt Disney’s storytelling legacy with its deep emotional impact and focus on family,” said Marjon Javadi, vice president of original documentaries at Disney Branded Television. “As we celebrate 100 years of The Walt Disney Company, Sean Wang reminds us, through his grandmothers’ beautiful relationship, that we can find magic in the every day at any age.”
And then when this year’s Oscar nominations were released, the film received a nomination for “Documentary Short Film.”
First Looks
Here is an exclusive clip from the doc, which Wang says “encapsulates some of the tones of the movie.”
Along with the official trailer:
How to Watch
“Nǎi Nai and Wài Pó” will be available to stream on both Disney+ and Hulu on Friday, February 9, 2024.
