Visas and Virtue

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Visas and Virtue
One-sheet photography: Dennis Mukai
Directed byChris Tashima
Written byChris Tashima & Tom Donaldson Based on the play by Tim Toyama
Produced byChris Donahue
StarringChris Tashima,

Susan Fukuda, Diana Georger,

Lawrence Craig
Narrated byShizuko Hoshi
CinematographyHiro Narita, A.S.C.
Edited byIrvin Paik
Music byScott Nagatani
Release date
1997
Running time
26 min.
Country United States
LanguageEnglish

Visas and Virtue is a narrative short film inspired by the true story of Holocaust rescuer Chiune "Sempo" Sugihara, who was known as "The Japanese Schindler. Sugihara is known for issuing over 2,000 transit visas to Polish Jews from his station in Kaunas, Lithuania in August of 1940, in defiance of his own government (Japan), thereby allowing an estimated 6,000 individuals to escape the impending Holocaust.

This film is not a documentary; it is a dramatization and contains fictional characters and events. It is based on an original one-act play by Tim Toyama, which was performed at the Road Theatre Company in Los Angeles in 1995. The play was then adapted by actor/director Chris Tashima in 1996, and completed as a 26-minute film in 1997.

Synopsis

Haunted by the sight of hundreds of Jewish refugees outside the consulate gates, a Japanese diplomat and his wife, stationed in Kaunas, Lithuania at the beginning of World War II, must decide how much they are willing to risk. Inspired by a true story, Visas and Virtue explores the moral and professional dilemmas that Consul General Chiune “Sempo” Sugihara faces in making a life or death decision: defy his own government’s direct orders and risk his career, by issuing live-saving transit visas, or obey orders and turn his back on humanity.

This Academy Award winning 26-minute portrait gracefully captured in period black and white by noted cinematographer Hiro Narita poignantly pays tribute to the rescuer of 6,000 Jews from the Holocaust.[1]

Awards

External links

  1. ^ Cedar Grove Productions website: www.cedargroveproductions.com
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