Films on Del Paso - From A Silk Cocoon + Homecoming!

Saturday, Sept 22!

Movies on a Big Screen, in conjunction with the Del Paso Blvd Partnership, present a very special evening "on the Boulevard!"

Location: The Artisan Theater. 1901 Del Paso Blvd.

One fantastic evening featuring two amazing films!! All starts at 5:00 PM (doors open at 4 PM). No folding chairs! The theater has actual padded seats!!

Between the two films, there will be a brief break, and after the final Q&A, the evening will wrap up with a "meet and greet" with the scheduled guest speakers inside the adjoining Cafe Refugio.

Admission for the evening is $15.00, which includes a couple of glasses of wine during the reception following the films.


First up:

From A Silk Cocoon, by Satsuki Ina

The discovery of a small metal box leads to the uncovering of a family story, shrouded in silence for more than 60 years. Woven through their censored letters, diary entries, and haiku poetry, is the story of a young Japanese American couple whose dreams are shattered when, months after their wedding, they find themselves held captive, first in race track horse stables and later, in tar paper barracks.

Abandoned by America, the country of their birth, Shizuko and Itaru endure four years of life behind barbed wires in American concentration camps during WWII. Itaru, incensed by the indignities of prison camp life, is charged with sedition for speaking out in protest of the government's efforts to separate the "loyal" from the "disloyal" by imposing a Loyalty Questionnaire on all adult prisoners.

In his speech, Itaru demands that Japanese Americans be "treated equal to the free people" before they are required to fight in the war. Those identified as loyal would become eligible for the military draft, while the "disloyals" would be segregated to the Tule Lake Segregation Center in northern California. In answering "no" to the questions regarding his willingness to bear arms against the enemy and disavow loyalty to the Emperor of Japan, Itaru is identified as a trouble-maker, and he, his wife and two small children are segregated to Tule Lake.

Faced with deteriorating conditions regarding food, coal supplies, medical care, and milk for her children, Shizuko falls into despair. Militant pro-Japan groups begin to proliferate in the turmoil-ridden segregation camp and rumors sweep through the barracks. What initially appears to be a crisis-of-loyalty, becomes more clearly, a crisis-of-faith… in their own country.

Unfortunately, Sacramento filmmaker Satsuki Ina will not be able to be in attendance. However, Kiyo Sato, author of the just released book "Dandelion Through the Crack" will be in attendance for a discussion and Q&A following the film. Copies of her book will also be available for sale.

About the author: Kiyo Sato was attending Sacramento Junior College when World War II broke out and brought with it the evacuation of all Japanese-Americans in 1942. In her book, Kiyo recalls the trauma of being forced to leave the family farm and ship out to a prison camp with little more than the clothes on their backs.

At the end of the war, after their release from the prison camp and then working a season as hired laborers in Colorado, Kiyo and her family returned to their farm in Sacramento to rebuild their home and their lives. Kiyo’s parents were able to keep their farm, but many Japanese-American families were not so fortunate and had to start over with nothing.

Kiyo then joined the United States Air Force, completing her college education in nursing and achieving the rank of captain. She eventually returned home from the service, married, and started her own family in Sacramento.


This will be followed by:

Homecoming, by Adam Hauck and George Cawood

"Orphanage" conjures images of dreary warehouses for unwanted children who are denied the most basic of human needs: love and a sense of family. In stark contrast to the Dickensian vision of orphan life, "Homecoming" provides a surprisingly different view. Throughout the award-winning film, 15 men and women who grew up in different public and private orphanages dispel many of the common myths about orphanage life. Their heartwarming recollections echo the positive experiences of thousands of now-grown orphanage alumni worldwide. Through their stories, a new portrait of an American family emerges.

Both Adam Hauck and George Cawood are from Sacramento and currently reside in southern California. They'll be flying up for the evening to be in attendance!

Seating is limited. To purchase advance tickets, please contact the Del Paso Blvd Partnership at 916/923-6200.

Net proceeds will be donated to the Capitol Church Clothes for Career Project.

http://www.shiny-object.com/screenings/
http://www.delpasoboulevard.com