Visas and Virtue
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| Visas and Virtue | |
|---|---|
 One-sheet photography: Dennis Mukai |
|
| Directed by | Chris Tashima |
| Produced by | Chris Donahue |
| Written by | Chris Tashima & Tom Donaldson
Based on the play by Tim Toyama |
| Narrated by | Shizuko Hoshi |
| Starring | Chris Tashima
Susan Fukuda |
| Music by | Scott Nagatani |
| Cinematography | Hiro Narita, A.S.C. |
| Editing by | Irvin Paik |
| Release date(s) | 1997 |
| Running time | 26 min. |
| Country |  United States |
| Language | English |
| IMDb profile | |
Visas and Virtue is a narrative short film inspired by the true story of Holocaust rescuer Chiune "Sempo" Sugihara, who is known as "The Japanese Schindler." Sugihara issued over 2,000 transit visas to Polish and Lithuanian 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.
Contents |
[edit] Tagline
Europe, 1940. For thousands of Jews, a Japanese diplomat and his wife defy Tokyo and the Nazis, and offer visas... For life.
[edit] Background
This film is not a documentary; it is a dramatization (docu-drama) 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. The film was produced by Cedar Grove Productions with Visual Communications serving as non-profit sponsor.
Visas and Virtue won the Academy Award for Live Action Short Film in March, 1998 (70th Academy Awards). The Oscar® statuettes went to actor and director Tashima and producer Chris Donahue.
[edit] 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.
[edit] Awards
(partial list)
- Academy Award for Live Action Short Film – 70th Academy Awards
- 1st Place: Fiction Prize – USA Film Festival/Dallas
- "Francisco Garcia de Paso" Award – Huesca International Short Film Contest
- Crystal Heart Award – Heartland Film Festival
- CINE Golden Eagle
- Special Jury Prize – Competition for Films and Videos on Japan
- "Adriano Morais" Award – Algarve International Film Festival
- Golden Shoestring Award – Rochester International Film Festival
- Best Short Film – Sonoma Valley Film Festival
