Day of Remembrance

Cynthia Fujikawa

Cynthia Fujikawa

Documentary
Short Film

More About Day of Remembrance from Director Cynthia Fujikawa

Day of Remembrance is a short documentary that draws a connection between the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II and the secret detentions and disappearances of Arabs and Muslims in the US today. Day of Remembrance is comprised of short excerpts from several 2003 Day of Remembrance Programs: events held annually in cities around the US which observe the anniversary of the passage of Executive Order 9066 (signed by FDR in 1942) which ultimately led to the internment of 120,000 persons of Japanese ancestry. Each of the programs featured (Los Angeles, New York, Honolulu, San Francisco, Sacramento and Seattle) focused on raising awareness of the unfortunate civil rights violations currently occurring in US Arab and Muslim communities, and on parallels between these circumstances and those faced by Americans of Japanese ancestry 61 years ago.

Day of Remembrance also highlights the controversy sparked around Congressman Howard Coble’s remarks this year (endorsing FDR’s decision to intern Japanese Americans in 1942). It features the heart wrenching testimony of 19-year old Nadin Hamoui, released this year after 9 months in FBI detention. It also shows the bond developing between Arab Americans and Japanese Americans, and features members of both communities calling out for unity and vigilance.

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FILMMAKER BIO

Cynthia Gates Fujikawa, Producer/Director

Cynthia Gates Fujikawa began her career as an actress. She studied theatre and music at San Francisco State University, and received a Master of Fine Arts in acting at the American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco. In 1995, she was a Resident Artist at New York’s internationally-acclaimed Mabou Mines, where her one-woman show, Old Man River, received its first workshop. In 1997, Old Man River had its world premiere on stage at the newly-restored New Victory Theater on historic 42nd Street. In 1998, Cyndy teamed up with Emmy award-winning director Allan Holzman and adapted Old Man River into a feature-length documentary feature. This film version was exhibited in cultural institutions and film festivals throughout the country, garnering much critical acclaim. Cyndy is a 1996/97 Van Lier Fellowship recipient in playwriting at the New York Theatre Workshop. Other honors include grants from the Manhattan Community Arts Fund, the Civil Liberties Public Education Fund, the California Civil Liberties Public Education Program and Pick of the Week in LA Weekly.