American Pastime

I absolutely hate it when a really good film (usually an Indie film) never makes it to the big screen (because it’s Indie), while there are so many truly horrible movies that do. One perfect example of a film that has yet to get the recognition it deserves is “American Pastime.” This film is based on true stories of Japanese Americans who were suddenly discriminated against then forced into internment camps all over America during WWII.

Writer and director Desmond Nakano (writer and director of “White Man’s Burden” - 1995), tells the story of one particular Japanese American family whose two sons respond very differently to the move into the camp. Lane (Leonardo Nam), the elder son, enlists in the army to fight for America while the younger son, Lyle (Aaron Yoo) rebels against it all and initiates a forbidden romance with Katie, a white camp guard’s daughter (Sarah Drew). Kaz Nomura (played by the incredibly famous Japanese star Masatoshi Nakamura), their father, decides to start an in-camp baseball league to “pass the time,” as it were, and make them all feel as if they were free again. When the league they’ve begun starts getting good, they challenge the local minor league team, which is made up mostly of camp guards, in hopes that they will win back the thing they value the most: their dignity.

The film has brilliant historical value, telling a tumultuous yet redemptive story that everyone should hear at least once, yet most have never heard. I was lucky enough to see it on the big screen at this year’s Asian American International Film Festival in New York City this past weekend, but it is available on DVD. I highly recommend this film to absolutely anyone.

Other noteworthy stars:
Gary Cole (“West Wing,” “Office Space”)
Jon Gries (“Napoleon Dynamite”)
Judy Ongg

Viewed: July 21, 2007
Rating: Four stars

~ by Heather on July 26, 2007.