American Pastime

When I saw the movie "American Pastime", there was a Q and A afterward. This film is a compilation of many of the experiences that friends and relatives of the screen writer had during the Japanese internment camps of WWII. The producer and director stated that the entire film was filmed in Utah, near where one of the internment camps had been, so the actors could feel and understand even the weather, sand, and restrictive situations that happened.

Inspite of the seriousness of the situation, the viewer will laugh, think, and cry as they watch this film. The baseball scenes were fun, but one knows it was a bit over the top. That didn't hurt the film though. During the Q and A, we were told that baseball really was a big part of life at internment camps.

The actors were sincere. I only hope that because this film is a small budget film, that it does not get lost in the shuffle. I think it was one of the best films I have seen this year, and I go to the movies a lot..It is a sure thing.

This movie should be presented as Middle School curriculum across the U. S. The screenwriter and director do a great job creating an entertaining and historical movie that provokes a myriad of emotion with a humanitarian message. I love that American Pastime brings attention to Japanese American's love for baseball. The California 'Nisei' baseball league that continues to thrive to this day, was originated after the Japanese Americans were released form the Internment camps after WWII. I had the privilege to compete in this league for 15 years and continue to support it. This is a sleeper of a movie that can be enjoyed by any generation, especially if you find romance in baseball, history and family.

The producers of this movie should team with Clint Eastwood to create an blockbuster honoring the 442nd. "Go For Broke"

In the sense of being an entertaining film, this movie does a fantastic job of captivating its audience with topics and themes relevant to them while portraying at least some aspect of the Japanese American incarceration. The film itself is quite intriguing and leaves viewers satisfied with a happy ending where the underdogs come out on top. However, from a historical and educational standpoint, this film is lacking in several areas. The biased portrayal of particular details of this historical memory only furthers the uninformed psyche of the general public about the true nature of these camps. The film feeds into the propaganda circulated since the beginning of these camps that life for the Japanese American people would work out in their favor, with little time given to the remembrance of the actual devastation these people underwent.

This film is a poignant drama that depicts the dichotomized perspectives of U.S. citizens during World War II. Although heritage and physical attributes divide two groups of people, common interests (jazz music, baseball, and truth) bond them together. American Pastime also delves into the inner relations of two families caught on opposite sides of the fence and the upheaval of their respective traditional values.

When one resembles the face of an enemy, it leads to fear. Fear then leads to prejudice; then prejudice to discrimination. Could it be possible for love and truth to triumph over a chasm created by war?

Commendable acting by all the cast--there is also a touching performance by Sarah Drew. The cinematography is outstanding. I highly recommend this movie.

I loved this movie. The movie was much different then you would think it would be. the movie is about WW2 Japenese-Amereican Interns and how they coped with their internment. I was lucky enough to be there when the producer and the writer of the book "Through Diamond" who helped with the research and the making of this movie. they answered many questions about the movie. they made it more clear even though it was already a very clear movie. everything about this movie was great. The acting, the cinematography, and the construction of the interment camp(they found the actual blueprints of the internment camp). I would recommend everyone to see it or go buy the DVD when it goes on the market.