Come See the Paradise (1990)

User Rating:

6.6/10   

Director:

Alan Parker

Writer (WGA):

Alan Parker (written by)

Release Date:

January 1991 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | History | Romance | War

Tagline:

In 1942, over 100,000 Americans were interned in prison camps.....In America.

Plot:

Portraying one of the shadier details of American history, this is the story of Jack McGurn, who comes to Los Angeles in 1936...

Plot Keywords:

Labor | Union | Forbidden Love | Interracial | Interracial Relationship

Awards:

3 nominations

Cast

Dennis Quaid	...	Jack McGurn
Tamlyn Tomita	...	Lily Yuriko Kawamura / McGann
Sab Shimono	...	Hiroshi Kawamura
Shizuko Hoshi	...	Mrs. Kawamura
Stan Egi	...	Charlie Kawamura
Ronald Yamamoto	...	Harry Kawamura
Akemi Nishino	...	Dulcie Kawamura
Naomi Nakano	...	Joyce Kawamura
Brady Tsurutani	...	Frankie Kawamura
Elizabeth Gilliam	...	Younger Mini McGann
Shyree Mezick	...	Middle Mini McGann
Caroline Junko King	...	Older Mini McGann
Pruitt Taylor Vince	...	Augie Farrell
Colm Meaney	...	Gerry McGurn
Becky Ann Baker	...	Marge McGurn

Runtime:

138 min | 133 min (FMC Library Print)

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Japanese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:M | Iceland:L | Singapore:PG | Argentina:Atp | Chile:TE | Finland:K-8 | Sweden:11 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Astoria, Oregon, USA

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Quotes:

[first lines]
Older Mini McGann: Why are we so early?
Lily Yuriko Kawamura: It's good to early.
Older Mini McGann: Do you ever worry that you won't recognize him, Mama?
Lily Yuriko Kawamura: You recgnize me, don't you?
Older Mini McGann: Well, he might have grown a beard or a moustache or something. And I was so little. I only think I remember him. Do you think he'll remember me?
Lily Yuriko Kawamura: Well, he has all your photographs and all the letters you wrote him, and he has all your school reports
Older Mini McGann: You sent him my school reports?
Lily Yuriko Kawamura: Of course I did. I wanted to let him know how well you were doing. Come on, now. I got some tea and rice cakes here. We'll have a nice talk while we're walking, okay? Let's go.
Older Mini McGann: How far do we have to walk?
[...]

Movie Connections:

Features Oshidori utagassen (1939)

Soundtrack:

I've Been Feeling Lethargic Lately

A precursor of The Siege, a WWII Romeo/Juliet w/ happier ending.

This movie has faults--don't they all. Have found it very helpful in teaching a variety of concepts to sophomore and junior English students. The scenes showing Lily and her family forced out of their homes by Americans, marching to the train station in total silence except for their haunting, now-forbidden Japanese music are always received with great concentration and silence by my classes--a high tribute to Mr. Parker's ability to let a picture speak for itself. Come to the Paradise offers a refreshingly different viewpoint of a critical point in American history for those of us who prefer a little something to chew on besides popcorn at the movies.