“Movie Review: “Visas and Virtue” (1997), A 26-minute Short Film Directed By Chris Tashima.”

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Fig.  A scene from “Visas and Virtue
(courtesy Ceder Grove Productions)

“Visas and Virtue” is a short movie motivated by a true story of Sugihara Chiune, a Japanese diplomat who risked his and his family's life to save thousands of Jewish refugees in WWII by issuing transit visas to Japan from his consulate in Lithuania, in August 1940. The act, however, was a defiance against Japanese government because of Japan’s relationship with Germany.

In the morning of August 18,1940, Sugihara observed hundreds of people surrounding his Kaunas consulate. They looked exhausted. They were the Jewish people from Poland as well as from Lithuania who were facing an existential threat by the Nazis. 

The following scene vividly captures the anguish of Sugihara and his wife.

+++++++++++

Yuki (Sugihara’s wife):

Chiune, you promised that everyone would get a visa.

Sugihara:

If I lose my career-

Don’t you care what happens to us?

Yuki, I am issuing illegal visas.

We will lose everything.

Everything we worked for.

I can’t believe how reckless we have been.

Yuki:

They walked from Poland.

Look at the children.

They will be killed. If we do nothing, we are evil too.

Sugihara:

I can’t open my hand. Yuki, I am afraid.

Yuki: 

You are samurai. Taught to help those in need.

Sugihara: 

(laughing awkwardly)

I’m a diplomat

Yuki: 

Even the hunter cannot kill the bird that has flown to him for refuge.

The one thing you have is honor.

Chiune, keep writing.

++++++++++++++


Fig. The Sugihara’s leave Kaunas for Berlin, his next assignment.

Sugihara issued transit visas even at the train station.

A scene from “Visas and Virtue” (courtesy Ceder Grove Productions)

Actor/dirctor Chris Tashima performs Sugihara in a dazzling manner. One of my most favorite Sugihara movies. Tashima’s speech together with his expression brilliantly shows Sugihara’s anguish. This, I don’t seem to find in other Sugihara movies. I found interesting to know that Tashima with his cofounder, started Ceder Grove Productions [1] which is in tribute to that film subject the company takes its name from the literal translation of Sugihara. “Sugi” means cedar and “hara” meaning field or grove. The company describes itself as dedicated to developing and producing projects which boldly defy mainstream Hollywood by giving Asian Americans the close-up on screen or the spotlight on stage.

Later I learned that this movie won the Oscar for Best Live Action Short Film in March, 1998 (70th Academy Awards). The Oscar statuettes went to actor and director Tashima and producer Chris Donahue. [2]

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cedar_Grove_Productions

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visas_and_Virtue

 

 

 

 

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