Filmmaker Tadashi explores his father Robert A. Nakamura's life as an influential Asian American artist and activist, while grappling with Robert's Parkinson's diagnosis, navigating themes of art,...
Tadashi Nakamura’s “Third Act” is a deeply intimate, emotionally resonant documentary that serves both as a tribute and a reckoning. It tells the story of his father Robert A. Nakamura through the lens of family, art, history, and illness. Often referred to as “The Godfather of Asian American Film,” Robert is known as a pioneering figure in cinema history. For those unfamiliar with him, this documentary offers a moving introduction to a man whose influence is quietly monumental.
Structured in three clear narrative phases that include Robert’s post-WWII artistic awakening, his journey toward finding a purpose in activism and filmmaking, and his current struggles with Parkinson’s disease, the film unfolds like a series of layered home movies. It has the tone of a son trying to understand his father not just through memory, but through the act of storytelling itself.
This is why the documentary works on multiple levels. It’s a personal exploration of a father-son relationship, a reflection on aging and legacy, and a broader meditation on the Asian American experience. The film does not shy away from difficult truths, including the trauma of internment, the weight of expectations passed between generations, or the quiet heartbreak of watching a once-powerful mind begin to fade. But there is so much warmth and tenderness here too, especially in the moments where Tadashi grapples with how much of his father’s legacy he is willing (or able) to carry forward.
For viewers outside the Asian American community, this film may feel revelatory. It’s startling to realize how little-known Robert Nakamura is beyond academic or activist circles, considering his critical role in shaping Asian American media and identity. I’m shocked, surprised, and a bit embarrassed that I’d never heard much about him. The film gently corrects this oversight by rendering his full life in all of its messy complexity.
At times, the documentary can feel insular, almost like it was specifically made for the family and community closest to Robert. And yet, there’s a universal thread in its exploration of how we inherit history, how we define ourselves in relation to our parents, and what we choose to preserve when memory begins to slip away.
“Third Act” is less about fame or recognition, though, and more about what it means to live a meaningful life that impacts others even if it doesn’t make headlines. For Tadashi Nakamura, this story is personal. For the rest of us, it’s a quiet, powerful reminder of a legacy too important to be forgotten.
