Nailed It

Ever had a manicure? You can probably thank Tippi Hedren, star of Hitchcock’s The Birds. Actually, you can thank the bravery, ingenuity, and sheer determination of 20 Vietnamese refugee women who, in 1975, took intensive training in salon arts courtesy of Hedren’s philanthropy. They turned what they learned into a multibillion dollar industry that supports their families and their community to this day. Nailed It, a CAAM-funded film, reaches back to uncover this story and introduces key players in the development of the industry. Filmmaker Adele Free Pham treats us to an emotional reunion between Hedren and the women she helped in 1975, and the film make parallels between the harrowing experiences of Vietnamese refugees and current refugee crises worldwide. The film celebrates both the art and soul of nails with fun illustrations by Debbie Allen and Jason DSouza reminiscent of the TV series Broad City. Pham deals with racism, stereotypes and fears about enterprising immigrants with a surprisingly even hand, offering a captivating exploration of how a nail salon ended up on every corner and in every strip mall - and the survival of a community. (CAAMFest)