The much anticipated opening of the film, the Manzanar Fishing Club is set for Friday, March 30th in Santa Monica at the Laemmle Monica 4. The film chronicles the World War II internment of Japanese American from a new and unique perspective.
The film has been a labor of love for director Cory Shiozaki and screen writer Richard Imamura for the past 6-years. The two men have conducted nearly 70 hours of interviews with 26 surviving internees or their family members and many others in order to preserve this untold story from the Second World War.
The Manzanar Fishing Club is about how some of those unfairly imprisoned risked their lives to fish for trout in the surrounding waters in the Eastern Sierra. They snuck past armed guards, navigated through barbed wire and hid from search lights to taste sweet freedom and regain lost dignity if even for a brief moment. The film speaks to the human spirit and carries with it valuable life lessons for people of every age.
James Tani currently works at Pierpoint Landing in Long Beach and remembers his mother’s stories about this despicable chapter in American history. “My mother told me that I was the second baby born in Manzanar,” said Tani. “It was a very difficult time for my entire family.”
The FBI showed up on the Tani doorstep and gave the family 48 hours to move out. Tani’s father, Yoshiji was sent to North Dakota while Tani’s mother, Kikako was sent to Manzanar. Kikako, eight months pregnant and with a two year old daughter Kazume, was allowed to take only what she could carry in her arms.
Yoshiji Tani had been a fisherman in Terminal Island and fishing has always been an integral part of his life. He not only lost his livelihood and his home, but he was also separated from his wife and children. “
One of the major reasons that Shiozaki and Imamura made this film was to make sure that history would not repeat itself. Both men wanted to do their part to make sure nothing like this would ever happen again to innocent, decent, hardworking American citizens. The March
30th opening is not a random date either. It was chosen because it coincides with when the first trainloads of prisoner arrived at Manzanar in 1942.
“I’m going to see this film and I’m not sure what emotions it will stir up in me,” said Tani. “I just feel compelled to see it as it had such a huge impact on my family’s life.”
The theme song, To Be Free, was written by singer, song-writer Harold Payne who has written for such artists as Snoop Dog, Rod Stewart and The Temptations. Payne’s beautifully written song goes to the heart of what the Manzanar Fishing Club is all about. The first 100 attendees to the film will receive a CD of the song.
"Harold will be a special guest at our "Meet the Music of 'The Manzanar Fishing Club'" event following the 5:20 pm screening on Sunday, April 1, at the Laemmle Monica-4... Come to this event and meet Harold in person," said Imamura.
Advance ticket sales are available on the Laemmle Theatres website (laemmle.com), and group sales inquiries can be directed to (310) 292-3600.
On Saturday, March 31st, the “Voices” of the Manzanar Fishing Club will be available to meet with the public after the 7:30pm showing. I was proud to have been chosen to narrate Act III this very enlightening film and will be among the attendees.
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