In Technicians, directors Kevin and Kelly Luu explore the intersection of automation and the Vietnamese-American immigrant experience. The short film centers on David (J. Alphonse Nicholson), an automation technician tasked with installing self-service manicure stations at a nail salon. There, he meets Hoa, a Vietnamese-American nail tech whose job is at risk. The film’s understated yet powerful narrative delves into the very real struggles of immigrant workers, particularly within the Vietnamese-American community, who have long relied on labor-intensive jobs to make a living in America.

Nail salons have been a cornerstone of the Vietnamese-American immigrant experience, with many workers—predominantly women—building lives in this industry after fleeing the war-torn past of Vietnam. In Technicians, the salon serves as more than just a workplace; it’s a cultural space that ties generations of immigrants to their roots and survival. The arrival of automation—embodied by the self-service stations—threatens to erase not just jobs, but an entire way of life for these workers.

The film poignantly captures the quiet tension between human connection and the cold march of technology. Nicholson’s character, David, represents the growing force of automation that places workers like Hoa in jeopardy. However, through their brief yet significant interaction, Technicians reflects on the deep emotional and cultural stakes involved for Vietnamese-Americans trying to hold onto their livelihood in an increasingly impersonal world.

What stands out in Technicians is its ability to tackle issues of labor, automation, and cultural displacement with subtlety and nuance. The film isn’t just about job loss; it’s about the larger immigrant experience, one shaped by resilience and the struggle to preserve identity while navigating the pressures of a rapidly changing society. David’s task—replacing human workers with machines—becomes a metaphor for the larger forces of erasure and marginalization that Vietnamese-Americans, and many immigrant communities, face every day.

J. Alphonse Nicholson’s performance is quietly moving, offering a window into the moral complexity of a character caught between his role as an agent of automation and his empathy for Hoa’s plight. Technicians is not just a commentary on technology but on the very human costs it imposes on communities who have already fought for their place in America.

For Vietnamese-Americans, the nail salon has long been more than just a business—it’s a refuge, a cultural touchstone, and an essential part of the immigrant narrative. In exploring the impact of automation on this vital part of the Vietnamese-American community, Technicians offers a deeply resonant and timely reflection on labor, survival, and the immigrant struggle for dignity in the face of progress.

A must-watch for anyone interested in the intersection of technology, labor, and identity, Technicians is an essential piece of storytelling that gives voice to the Vietnamese-American experience while offering a universal commentary on the impact of automation on our lives.

Written by Millie Hardy