"American Pastime" A Film by Desmond Nakano
American Pastime Tuesday, May 8, 2007, 6:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. In his latest film, Desmond Nakano (White Man's Burden, Last Exit to Brooklyn) intertwines two great American pastimes: baseball and war. Set during World War II, American Pastime follows two families, the Nomuras and the Burrells, whose fates collide at the Topaz prison camp in the desolate Utah desert. Camp guard Billy Burrell (Gary Cole), a frustrated minor league catcher, antagonizes restless young Lyle Nomura (Aaron Yoo), a star pitcher who was forced to leave behind a college scholarship when he was interned. Tensions escalate quickly when Lyle strikes up a romance with Burrell’s daughter, Katie (Sarah Drew), a music instructor at the camp. In a gesture of goodwill, Lyle’s father, Kaz (Masatoshi Nakamura), proposes a game between Burrell’s team and the internees, a contest that tests the limits of the town’s tolerance, and reveals a deeper conflict – and triumph – at the heart of American society. With lyricism and complexity, the film celebrates the deep-rooted belief in humanity that enabled a people treated so poorly by its own government to cling so faithfully to the American dream. The screening is made possible through the generous support of the National Japanese American Memorial Foundation. For more information, visit www.apa.si.edu |