Blue Garden is a hybrid doc-animation that retells the history of a Japanese Canadian fisherman during the WWII internment. The film explores how trauma can fester and family stories can remain unspoken for generations. However, through the participatory nature of filmmaking, the younger generation is able to reconcile their grief and feel empowered to tell their family history.

Director - Natalie Murao

Growing up as a child, my mother would often remind me of the hardships that my grandparents faced because of the internment. She would say, “Ojiichan had to pack only one suitcase, what would you bring?” I almost didn’t believe my mother. How could Ojiichan, a gentle and quiet man, experience such a dark and traumatic life? But there was so much I didn’t know about him or what he had been through. The internment was something that the younger generation like myself knew to never bring up to our grandparents.

The internment is a difficult subject that many Japanese Canadians still struggle to come to terms with and there are an array of experiences that have derived from it. I hope that BLUE GARDEN adds to the canon of Japanese Canadian stories, particularly in film. As well, I hope to destigmatize the topic of internment and be able to discuss it more openly with the community.

I have dedicated my filmmaking practice to sharing stories surrounding the Asian Canadian and diasporic experience. My previous work has leaned more towards narrative filmmaking, but I am currently trying to pursue other styles such as documentary and animation. For me, the process of filmmaking can be an environment for personal growth and introspection. By engaging with the film’s stories and themes, I believe that BLUE GARDEN will help myself and others be better equipped to address the hardships that the Japanese Canadian and Asian Canadian community face today.