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Currently Playing: NISEI | Omeleto

Two brothers fight in World War II. Minoru and John are two brothers born and raised in the U.S. to parents who emigrated from Japan. Minoru is eager and idealistic, but John is more pessimistic and cynical. When World War II breaks out, they're stripped of their citizenship and placed in internment camps with other Japanese-Americans. To prove their loyalty, they volunteered for the 442nd Regimental Combat, comprised of Japanese-Americans like them. Torn between country and family, both brothers must face harrowing combat overseas in the devastating theater of war. But they also face discrimination and ostracization at home in a country that doesn't want them. Directed and written by Darren Haruo Rae, this elegantly appointed short historical drama shines a light on an all-Japanese-American troop of soldiers who fought in World War II for a country imprisoning them and their families because of their ancestry. The film has a wide canvas visually and narratively, with rich and polished cinematography, layered storytelling and a vast sense of place. But it maintains a sense of intimacy with its main character, Minoru, and through him, it examines themes of loyalty, heroism, belonging and immigrant identity. The structure of the film weaves two main scenes, one where Minoru says goodbye to his father at the internment camps (after getting past a skeptical guard) and another where Minoru's troop find themselves ambushed and then embroiled in a gunfight. As Minoru clarifies to his father why he is fighting for the U.S., we then shift to the brothers in Italy as they navigate an unexpected gunfight and explosion. Despite the violence, the film's tenor is generally thoughtful and restrained, with the visuals possessing a stateliness that suits the historical themes and setting. The focus is less on the adrenaline and suspense of wartime violence and more on the brother's internal experience as they navigate their motivations for fighting. Played by actor Jonathan Tanigaki with shining sincerity and idealism, Minoru is out to prove he is as American as anyone else. But he's also fighting because he loves and believes in the idea of America itself. That love may or may not register with the world at large but it's there -- and worth making sacrifices for. Inspired by the experiences of the director's grandfather in World War II, NISEI is the name for second-generation Japanese-Americans -- those born in the U.S. to Japanese parents, and whose loyalties were still questioned despite their birthright citizenship. The film is a testament to their bravery, as well as a caution to remember this chapter of U.S. history. Beautifully crafted and deeply felt, it is also a reminder that every war has casualties that are tragic -- and should be honored and remembered for their sacrifice. NISEI. Courtesy of Darren Haruo Rae at https://instagram.com/niseithefilm.