History and Memory: For Akiko and Takashige

History and Memory: For Akiko and Takashige is a 1991 documentary film by Rea Tajiri. In her film, Tajiri recalls her family's experience of the American internment of the Japanese during World War II.[2][3][4]

History and Memory: For Akiko and Takashige
Directed byRea Tajiri
Written byRea Tajiri
Produced byRea Tajiri[1]
StarringNoel Shaw and Sokhi Wagner
CinematographyGeorge, Rea Tajiri [1]
Edited byRea Tajiri, Robert Burden
Music byHarry Warren, Al Dubin, Warner Bros.
Production
company
Akiko Productions
Distributed byWomen Make Movies, Electronic Arts Intermix, Video Data Bank
Release date
  • 1991 (1991)
Running time
32 minutes
CountryUSA
LanguageEnglish
Budget$25,000.00 [1]

History and Memory explores the story beyond the recorded history of the internment of the Japanese and Japanese Americans.[5] The film premiered at the 1991 Whitney Biennial exhibition, and has since been screened over 250 times.[1]

The Film

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Tajiri presents collective history from mainstream mediums, whilst presenting her own history through the memory of real people.[6][7] To create her own personal history, Tajiri utilizes memory through her family members' experiences, along with photographs and 8mm footage.[5] She also uses mainstream mediums such as, newsreels, Hollywood feature film, and government propaganda.[8]

Caryn James, wrote in The New York Times that "Tajiri approaches her subject like a poet. She weaves together images and allows them to enrich one another in skewed and subtle ways as their resonances slowly emerge."[citation needed]

Awards

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  • 1991: Distinguished Achievement Award from the International Documentary Association (Whitney Biennial, World Premiere)[1][8]
  • 1992: Special Jury Prize: "New Visions Category" (San Francisco International Film Festival)[1][8]
  • 1992: Best Experimental Video (Atlanta Film and Video Festival)
  • Named one of the Top 100 American Films by Women Directors[9][1][8]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g Elliot, Kate. "History and Memory: For Akiko & Takashige." Guerilla Gaze: Women of Color Shooting Back, Presented by Serendip Studio. Serendip, n.d. Web. 22 Apr. 2015
  2. ^ American Historical Review Review by Kathleen Hulser
  3. ^ New York Times Review by Sarah Ing
  4. ^ Los Angeles Times Review by Robert Koehler
  5. ^ a b Hulser, Kathleen. "Film Reviews: History and Memory Directed by Rea Tajiri." American Historical Review (1991): 1142-143. Print.
  6. ^ Payne, Robert M. ""History and Memory" and "Who's Going to Pay for These Donuts, Anyway?"" Jump Cut May 1997: 67-76. Jump Cut: A Review of Contemporary Media. Jump Cut. Web. 22 Apr. 2015.
  7. ^ "History and Memory: On Visual Media and the Collective Memory of the Internment of Japanese Americans." (n.d.): n. pag. Reatajiri. Web. 22 Apr. 2015.
  8. ^ a b c d "History and Memory: For Akiko and Takashige." WOMEN MAKE MOVIES. Women Make Movies, n.d. Web. 22 Apr. 2015.
  9. ^ http://www.tft.ucla.edu/mediascape/Spring07_InResponseToTheAFI.pdf
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