Nelson
Renamed ‘Nelson’ by the US Army, Ik Nam Cho gives a candid account of his time as a soldier during the Vietnam War fighting for America. Nelson reflects on his changing attitudes towards his own slaying of the Viet Cong, and share his thoughts on why a Korean man should be killing fellow Asians for Uncle Sam in the early 1970s.
Iva tells this story entirely within the confines of Nelson's small deli on Lexington Ave. She uses his store as a metaphor for Nelson’s own mind. Her interview with Nelson brings to the surface the many conflicts that still serve to confuse him about his sense of identity and place within America.
As a trained fine artist and photographer, Iva has been able to capture revealing moments in time that are personally important to Nelson as an Asian-American. Iva reveals unique insights into American society throughout this short film. Nelson's own story highlights the levels of personal sacrifice required to be part of American society.
Iva shot her film ‘Nelson’ on a Canon 5D using Zeiss lenses, while focusing on depth of field to further enhance her compositions. Iva chose not to color grade the footage, so as to further enhance the story's authenticity.
