American Pastime

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.

American history has some dark moments. The internment camps involving 10,000 or so Japanese-Americans is one of these dark moments. As a teacher, most of what I have encountered on the subject is bleak documentary, and I had to really press myself to check out this DVD from the library. I am so glad I did. This movie honors those who suffered the indignities of wrongful paranoid prejudice. Harsh words, but in retrospect that's what it came down to. The director put together a movie that follows two families and their experiences during their internment time at Topaz, located in Utah. One family is Japanese-American, and the other is the point of view of the white "all American" family, the father, one of the soldiers based at the camp. The movie is all about dignity, doing what is right, and letting go of the wrongs. The centerpiece of using baseball, the American Pastime, adds the lighter moments to the movie. Overall, the movie is well-done, well-acted, and delivers illuminating historical information. I truly had no idea that so many Japanese-Americans willingly joined the service during WWII. The special features mini-doc is a must see. A family movie, although there is some language, it is recommended viewing.

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"