‘A Day on the Planet,’ ‘Persona Non Grata’ at Japan Foundation L.A.

Japan Foundation Los Angeles provides high-quality Japanese film screenings every second and fourth Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the JFLA Auditorium, 5700 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 100, Los Angeles. This month’s schedule:

It is just another day in their lives, and yet so many things happen; short precious moments, fleeting thoughts, mundane events, unusual incidents, both trivial and significant, whether they’re experienced in their hearts or in the real world around them. The night slowly progresses and when they cross that hazy line between today and tomorrow, they find themselves greeted by the new morning of a new day.

Talk session after screening with original author Tomoka Shibasaki.

Japanese title: “Kyou no Dekigoto” (きょうのできごと)

In 1939 when Germany invades Poland and incites World War II, hordes of Jewish refugees oppressed by the Nazis turn to Sugihara for visas. With no approval from the Japanese government and despite putting career and family at great risk, he decides to start issuing transit visas to the refugees.

Handsomely mounted by Japanese American director Cellin Gluck, this film is long overdue recognition of “Japan’s Schindler,” the only Japanese recognized as Righteous Among the Nations by the Israeli government and honored at Yad Vashem.

Q&A after screening with the director.

Japanese title: “Sugihara Chiune” (杉原千畝)

Both films are in Japanese with English subtitles. Free admission. Reservations not required. Street parking available. Info: (323) 761-7510, www.jflalc.org