On account of reticence to rehash past struggles or simply the passage of time over generations, understandings of one's heritage can be cloudy. This series of short films show how histories in Asia and America, as well as experiences throughout the lives of Asian Americans, are papered over, unearthed, and connected to the present moment. At its core, this program shows the irresistible allure of knowing one's own origins and the unique journeys that subsequently take place. From the cross-continental exploration of Finding Dohi to the contemplative An Uninterrupted View of the Sea, these films document discoveries both surprising and resonant.
Co-presented by The Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience and Seattle Taiwanese American Film Festival
FINDING DOHI is an intimate portrait of a woman separated by culture, language, and thousands of miles from a family she has never met. Daphne, a 3rd generation Japanese-American, holds on to letters sent to her mother long ago. The contents of the letters are a mystery, as they are written in Japanese and she cannot read or understand the language. Thus begins her decades-long pursuit to fill in the scant details she knows about her Grandfather Dohi, who immigrated to Hawai'i from a rural Japanese village in 1891.
- Year2020
- Runtime25 minutes
- LanguageEnglish, Japanese
- CountryJapan, United States
- PremiereSeattle Premiere
- NoteEnglish Subtitles
- DirectorAmber McClure
On account of reticence to rehash past struggles or simply the passage of time over generations, understandings of one's heritage can be cloudy. This series of short films show how histories in Asia and America, as well as experiences throughout the lives of Asian Americans, are papered over, unearthed, and connected to the present moment. At its core, this program shows the irresistible allure of knowing one's own origins and the unique journeys that subsequently take place. From the cross-continental exploration of Finding Dohi to the contemplative An Uninterrupted View of the Sea, these films document discoveries both surprising and resonant.
Co-presented by The Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience and Seattle Taiwanese American Film Festival
FINDING DOHI is an intimate portrait of a woman separated by culture, language, and thousands of miles from a family she has never met. Daphne, a 3rd generation Japanese-American, holds on to letters sent to her mother long ago. The contents of the letters are a mystery, as they are written in Japanese and she cannot read or understand the language. Thus begins her decades-long pursuit to fill in the scant details she knows about her Grandfather Dohi, who immigrated to Hawai'i from a rural Japanese village in 1891.
- Year2020
- Runtime25 minutes
- LanguageEnglish, Japanese
- CountryJapan, United States
- PremiereSeattle Premiere
- NoteEnglish Subtitles
- DirectorAmber McClure