Multifaceted Japanese and JA Representation Appears Across Decades at CAAMFest37

SAN FRANCISCO — Japanese representation is a mainstay at CAAMFest, presented by the Center for Asian American Media (CAAM) from May 9 to 19 in San Francisco and Oakland, and this year’s edition promises a multifaceted array of films and events representing key moments in Japanese and Japanese American history.

Spanning across decades, these stories begin at the dawn of film with the 100-year retrospective of “The Dragon Painter.” Internment during World War II is captured on celluloid in Jon Osaki’s “Alternative Facts: The Lies of Executive Order 9066,” and tribute to the late San Francisco Public Defender Jeff Adachi will be presented by Chihiro Wimbush and Corey Tong at “A Tribute to Jeff Adachi (1959-2019).”

Other films with Japanese or Japanese American representation include the following.

In “Minidoka” (precedes “Alternative Facts”), a young Seattle activist traces back his family history of incarceration during World War II and applies lessons learn to the politics of today.

“Okasan (Mom)” (“It Runs in the Family” shorts program) takes place in rural Japan, where a mother and daughter attempt to reconnect after dealing with the loss of a loved one. (Friday, May 10, at 5 p.m. at AMC Kabuki 8)

“Speak Easy, B” (“Out/Here” shorts program) delves into the mind of B, who is coming to terms with depression. (Monday, May 13, at 6:30 p.m. at AMC Kabuki 8)

Tina Takemoto is the director of two experimental shorts at CAAMFest37:

In “Sworded Love” (“Follow Me” shorts program), fleeting cinematic impressions of star-crossed swordsmen are captured in the oblique wanderings of emulsion lifted from a stray reel of a 35mm kung fu action film. (Sunday, May 12, at 9 p.m. at AMC Kabuki 8)

“Wayward Emulsions” (“Out/Here” shorts program) shows queer glimpses of a wayward woman captured in bits of emulsion lifted from stray reels of a 35mm Asian drama.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit http://www.caamedia.org.