"THE MANZANAR FISHING CLUB" RETURNS TO PASADENA FOR FULL RUN MAY 18

"A worthy documentary... Absorbing."

--Gary Goldstein, LOS ANGELES TIMES

"A window into something that most of us have heard about

but still remains mysterious."
-Mick LaSalle, SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE

LOS ANGELES – "The Manzanar Fishing Club," the groundbreaking documentary feature chronicling an untold story of freedom during the World War II incarceration of Japanese Americans on the West Coast, returns to the Laemmle Playhouse 7 theater in Pasadena for an exclusive engagement on Friday, May 18. The weeklong run marks the film's first extended stay in the City following a successful opening in Santa Monica March 30.

"We're pleased to bring 'The Manzanar Fishing Club' to Pasadena, so we can reach the many people who couldn't make it out to Santa Monica," said director/co-producer Cory Shiozaki. "This will be a lot more convenient."

The film has received a rousing reception since it debuted in Santa Monica at the Laemmle Monica 4. Two sold-out matinee screenings at the Playhouse 7 in April led to the current engagement.

"The overwhelming reception at the Pasadena matinees confirmed that we have a large audience who will come to see the film if it's within reach," Shiozaki added. "By playing in Pasadena now, we want to reach out not only to the people here, but also in Little Tokyo, Downtown, Hollywood, Silverlake-Los Feliz, Boyle Heights and so many more nearby areas."

Set during the World War II Japanese American Internment, "The Manzanar Fishing Club" relates a unique tale through the eyes of internees who all shared a love of fishing. But the documentary film is more than just a history book, as noted by Mark Sevi of the Orange County Screenwriters Association.

"The ending has a great reveal that would belie the documentary nature of the film," Sevi writes. "It's almost a treasure hunt worthy of a Ron Howard movie laid against the prejudices and hardships of the shameful nature of what America did to its citizens whose only crime was to be of Japanese heritage."

Telling the story of the incarceration through the eyes of the fishermen is a natural evolution, according to writer/co-producer Richard Imamura. "This year is the 70^th 'anniversary' of the roundup, and I felt it was time to flesh out the story, to personalize it. That's why we identify everyone interviewed by their hometown. 'So-and-so from Sawtelle.' Someone else from Boyle Heights. Another from Burbank. And Saugus, Venice, Terminal Island, Centinela and so on. This happened to real people from real places, often just down the street or freeway.

"But make no mistake," Imamura added, "this is not a fictional docu-drama. It's real."

The Laemmle Playhouse 7 is located at 673 E. Colorado Blvd., right in the Old Town district. There will be five shows daily, beginning at 1:10 pm.

In addition, special 11:00 AM matinees will again be held Saturday and Sunday, May 19 and 20, at the Laemmle Monica 4, 1332 2^nd Street, Santa Monica, and the Laemmle Claremont 5, 450 W. 2nd Street, Claremont.

Advance ticket sales are available on the Laemmle Theatres website (laemmle.com), and group sales inquiries can be directed to [email protected]. For additional information, call (310) 478-3836

"The Manzanar Fishing Club" was made with support from the California State Library's CCLPEP and the National Park Service's JACS grant programs and private donations.

A From Barbed Wire to Barbed Hooks LLC production, "The Manzanar Fishing Club" was directed by Cory Shiozaki from an original screenplay by Richard Imamura. The producers are Cory Shiozaki, Richard Imamura, Lester Chung and John Gengl. The executive producer is Alan Sutton.

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