Filmmaker Natalie Murao contemplates the conversation she never got to have with her grandfather in “Blue Garden” (2022, 5 minutes). The hybrid-doc-animation tells the story of Murao’s grandfather, a Japanese Canadian fisherman who was incarcerated during World War II. The Vancouver-based filmmaker first thought about creating the film in 2020 after she returned home at […]
‘Kikan — The Homecoming’ retraces a San Francisco Nikkei tale
August 15, 2019 by Leave a Comment
Japanese American filmmaker Kerwin Berk plans to premiere his latest film “Kikan – the Homecoming” Aug. 18 in San Francisco’s Japantown. Set in the 1940s, Berk tells the story of Jimmy Ibata (Ryan Takemiya), a Japanese American soldier returning to America after fighting in Europe with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. “Kikan” features a multi-generational cast of Japanese Americans directed by the director of “The Virtues of Corned Beef Hash” and “Infinity & Chashu Ramen,” two films predominantly set in the ethnic enclave. The Nichi Bei Weekly interviewed Berk, a Sansei, about his latest film.
Netflix’s ‘Always Be My Maybe’ a groundbreaking film for Asian Americans and Hollywood
June 20, 2019 by Leave a Comment
Sometimes the media revolution hits not with a bang, but in a sweet and subversive romantic comedy. Make no mistake. “Always Be My Maybe,” a recently released Netflix original starring Randall Park and Ali Wong, is one of the most culturally authentic mainstream films yet on Asian Americans. At the same time, “Always Be My […]
CAAMFest presents nuanced personal stories
April 25, 2019 by Leave a Comment
The Center for Asian American Media’s CAAMFest 2019 returns to the Bay Area May 9, and includes venues in San Francisco and Oakland, Calif. The following short films screen in San Francisco. ‘Period Girl’Any number of documentaries could be made about Nadya Okamoto. At 21 years old, she’s already co-founded a nonprofit with more than […]
Hunger Games v. Battle Royale: Deja vu in simplification
April 3, 2012 by 1 Comment
No. No, no, no, no, no. For once, I will step out of my normal realm of being ironic and trite to give a solid argument on something that has been bothering me for the past few weeks. Hunger Games v. Battle Royale “The Hunger Games” by Suzanne Collins and “Battle Royale” By Koushun Takami […]
A ‘Secret’ worthy of the Ghibli name
March 2, 2012 by 2 Comments
“The Secret World of Arrietty” (playing in theaters now, dubbed in English) is a new Studio Ghibli film, and neither Hayao Miyazaki nor Isao Takahata directed it. Animation fans know that this can be bad news; such Ghibli films have proved to be embarrassments to the esteemed studio. But fortunately that’s far from the case […]
‘I Am Bruce Lee’ to open in limited theaters in February
February 2, 2012 by Leave a Comment
As a cultural icon for Asian American and mainstream audiences alike, Bruce Lee is considered an inspirational figure. The upcoming release of “I Am Bruce Lee,” which Canadian filmmaker Pete McCormack directed, explores Lee’s life through archival footage and interviews with people who were close to him. Lee, whose thinking was both revolutionary and controversial, […]
Asians nominated for Oscars
February 2, 2012 by 1 Comment
The 84th Academy Awards by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will air on Sunday, Feb. 26. Some 5,783 members will have cast their votes for the outstanding film achievements of 2011, with films from 63 countries. The awards ceremony will take place at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center in […]
Harold and Kumar’s white Christmas
January 1, 2012 by Leave a Comment
In comedy, there is a wide spectrum of realism. On the one end, you have films that stick to conventional plots with largely realistic people and situations, then throw in the occasional unlikely event or silly character; on the other end, you have films that will do whatever it takes for a laugh, bombarding the […]
Management of San Francisco Japantown theater changes hands
July 7, 2011 by 1 Comment
The San Francisco Film Society (SFFS) announced on June 22 that the New People Cinema, located in San Francisco Japantown’s New People building, will become a permanent home to the film society. The SFFS has been searching for a permanent home for its yearlong showings as well as its two-week long San Francisco International Film […]
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