No No Girl

To me, individuals and families identify themselves in contexts. Some contexts are: who the other family members are, how spirituality connects them, their rituals, their shared celebrations, their shared tragedies, their shared grievances, their secrets, and especially in America, their heritages. This film depicts a family who struggles with the underlying half-known history of their family. Japanese American families with histories that go back to at least WWII have a special context: family members who were forced from their homes and into concentration camps thanks to Executive Order 9066. This was a shameful period of America that forced Americans from their homes because they looked like people of the nation that attacked Pearl Harbor on December seventh, nineteen forty-one. To me, one big issue of the film emerges: "Who are we? We are Americans whose parents and grandparents were 'othered' and their homes ripped from their possession through no fault of their own." The contemporary family goes through typical life in having family events, having jobs, going to college, and being connected to the overall culture with music, literature, movies, and news items. But, they are dealing with an extra dimension of dynamics. The family has been held together by the children of those who experienced the camps. Now, some evidence of the lives of the grandparents comes to light and a conflict emerges: do they keep the family together by not looking more deeply into some found letters and items of that time, or do they dig into this evidence and have the family structure threatened by exposing these unknown secrets? What would they find? Would the findings change their identities? Would something come to light that could cause them embarrassment? I saw the main tension coming from some of the family wanting to know what these details are no matter what it says about the family versus keeping the status quo of the family identity by not delving into these secrets and details. During wartime incarceration, these families were asked if they were willing to serve on combat duty wherever ordered or perhaps serve in the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps. They were also asked if they would swear unqualified allegiance to the United States and forswear any form of allegiance to the Emperor of Japan. 'No No Girl' gets its title from answering "no" to these questions. As an American, I say "How dare you ask me these questions!" These Americans were not treated as citizens who could have a freedom of choice to join the war effort or not. These Americans were asked a question of allegiance to someone they never had any connection to. The play 'Allegiance' delves into these issues by showing families experiencing the camps. This film shows the contemporary aftermath of this with its implications on the family. One of the implications is that the family knows exactly where the home their grandparents had, and it is nearby. Their home was stolen from them and their family was still able to reform themselves and start again. I could feel the pain behind the eyes of the family members who were going through these many levels of conflict. My family came from countries other than America. We were not treated like this. But I sure as hell can imagine what that might have felt like. I can imagine that because I am a human being, worthy of respect and dignity, just like them.

A thoughtful and captivating story surrounding second world war Japanese internment and the legacy down through subsequent generations. This was an indie film that certainly kept my attention and leaving me wanting to find out what the 'buried mystery' was, what the letters contained and what action the family would take. It was a well written story, the cinematography was visually pleasing and thoughtfully setup and the pacing done well. I did find the b-story about the rock girl singer a bit different from the main Asian cast plot but perhaps that accentuates the cultural opposites in the story background. Over all this was a satisfying film to watch and generally higher quality than the average indie drama film.

No No Girl is a deeply moving and beautifully crafted film that balances emotional weight with humor in a way that feels both authentic and resonant. Director Paul Daisuke Goodman masterfully uses pacing and editing to allow the story to unfold with nuance, never rushing but always holding the audience's attention. The result is a film that not only tells a powerful story, but also makes us feel deeply connected to the family at its center.

At its heart, this is a story about the lingering impact of Japanese American incarceration during World War II and how that trauma ripples through generations. The film captures the complexity of family dynamics-between parents and children, elders and the young-and presents these relationships with honesty and compassion. The moments of conflict, such as when a daughter pushes back against her parents' wishes by wanting to live in a mixed apartment, feel universally relatable, showing how generational struggles and differing values shape identity.

What makes No No Girl stand out is its ability to weave together drama and comedy in equal measure. The film never shies away from the weight of history, yet it finds levity in the everyday lives of its characters. This balance makes the story not only engaging, but also deeply human. The subplot involving the current family living on the land where the Japanese American grandparents once lived adds another layer of depth, forcing us to consider how legacies of injustice continue to shape communities today.

This is an important film-one that sheds light on a part of American history that is too often overlooked while also offering a universal story about family, memory, and healing. It deserves to be seen by a wide audience, both for its artistry and its message.

I very much enjoyed director Paul Daisuke Goldman's new thought provoking family drama "The No No Girl", which examines the impact of long ago family secrets and how they can impact their stability of their children even several generals later. The film is centered around a fourth-generation Hasegawa family, and the discovery of love letters written by the just-deceased grandmother from 80 years ago, when Japanese American were forced to leave their homes and relocate to Internment Japanese Camps under the Executive order 9066. The family decides to bury a "treasure chest" of family heirlooms. The grandchildren and great grandchildren who discovered these letters contemplates launching a search into their family history and uncovers long-buried family secrets.

Director Paul Daisuke Goldman deftly handles the complexity and tension coming from some of the family wanting to know what these details are no matter what versus keeping the status quo of the family identity by not delving into these secrets and details. During wartime incarceration during World War II, these Japanese American families were not treated as citizens who could have a freedom of choice to join the war effort or not. The Broadway show 'Allegiance' delves into these issues by showing Japanese American families experiencing the camps. This film shows the aftermath of what happens when the issue of racial profiling taken to the extreme, and even generations later, its impact on the family. Given the currently state in America and what is happening to the Latino immigrant community, ICE and racial profiling, this movie is indeed timely. With a capable, strong ensemble cast, "No No Girl" is notable in its restrained and intimate storytelling. It's a reflective and gentle reminder of how our family history shape who we are. If you are looking for a contemporary family drama which is both thoughtful and inspiring, I recommend giving "No No Girl" a look.

Goodman masterfully captures the ripple effects of one of America's darkest atrocities through a riveting story about family, loss, and healing. Spanning three generations of an American-Japanese family, the film alternates between present day and past following what starts as one girl's curiosity about her grandmother's life and what turns into a quest to uncover secrets almost a century-old that stand to threaten the very fabric of a family born out of an era of discrimination, interment, and shame. A film as worthy as the story it brings to life. Sensational cast and chemistry. A must see..