wodwebsiteblog

New Reviews and awards for Wings

noreply@blogger.com (edgewood pictures) — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 19:32:00 +0000

We are very excited to announce that Wings of Defeat recently won the 2008 Above and Beyond Award from the Women Film Critics Circle. We also were nominated for 2008 Most Overlooked Film by the James Egee Cinema Circle. Daniel Sauerwein's Military History blog gave us a great review as did Video Librarian. Read them in the press section of the website. Happy New Year everyone!

Wings wins Audience Award at AAIFF!

noreply@blogger.com (edgewood pictures) — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 20:17:00 +0000

Thanks for all the folks who came out to show love and support at the AAIFF. It was a great screening with insightful conversation...and it was great to screen Another Journey for the first time. It was fun festival! Thanks to Sonjia, William and the ACV gang for all the hard work and support for Asian and Asian Am film!

NYC Dept of Education

noreply@blogger.com (edgewood pictures) — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 19:12:00 +0000

During our US tour, we visit East West High School for International Studies in Flushing. We were all so impressed by the sensitive and thoughtful questions asked by the students. Here's an article highlighting the event on the NYC Dept of Education website. Check it out!
http://schools.nyc.gov/Home/InOurSchoolsToday/2007-2008/veterans.htm

WoD wins Special Jury Award at SFIAAFF!!

noreply@blogger.com (edgewood pictures) — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 01:42:00 +0000

We are so honored to have won a Special Jury Award at the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival last night!! Too bad we couldn't be there in person to express our gratitude but there's lots of love coming from here on the east coast to the west coast. It was a fantastic way to finish our mini-US Tour. Thanks to Chi-Hui, Taro and the rest of the festival crew for making our stay welcome and the screening a success.

US Tour is complete

noreply@blogger.com (edgewood pictures) — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 01:33:00 +0000

Thank you to everyone who came out to see the film in SF, NY and DC. Sold out screenings, lots of engaging questions, and plenty of shochu and sushi made the week go by too quickly. Ena san and Ueshima san were completely impressed by the high school and university students who asked so many thoughtful questions. It was great to see Ena san and Ueshima san reunite with USS Drexler survivors Fred Mitchell and Gene Brick. More photos will follow but here are a couple from the sold-out NY premiere screening where the evening ended with a standing ovation as Ena san, Ueshima san and Fred stood on stage holding hands. To think that this was an impossible image only a few decades ago...it can all perhaps give us a little hope as to what is possible.

US Tour and DVD news

noreply@blogger.com (edgewood pictures) — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 16:53:00 +0000

I have to admit keeping up my blog writing is harder than I thought. Daily life seems to get in the way but lots of great things have been happening with the film since I last wrote. First off, former Kamikaze Ena Takehiko and Ueshima Takeo are coming to the US! We will be premiering the film at the SF Intl Asian Amer Film Festival on March 14, head to NYC for a screening at the Japan Society and then to DC for an event at Georgetown. They will have a mini reunion with Fred Mitchell and Gene Brick while they are here and of course we will document everything on video. The JAPANESE DVD will be on sale in Japan starting March 19th. Pony Canyon has done an incredible job with the whole package and we are really excited to share the film with more and more folks. The AMERICAN version of the DVD will be on sale to educators starting this summer...then to individuals shortly after that so stay tuned! Thank you to everyone for their continued support. We'll be announcing more festival news in the near future so be sure to check back.

IDFA Screening Times

noreply@blogger.com (edgewood pictures) — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 02:23:00 +0000

The screening times have been set. We'll be in the First Appearance Competition section and will be having our intl premiere on Nov 24 at 7:45pm, Nov 29 at 5:30pm, and Dec 1 at 4:00pm. Films Transit will be repping the film domestically and internationally - big thank you to Jan and Diana. We are so honored to be working with you!

We're going to Amsterdam!

noreply@blogger.com (edgewood pictures) — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 22:00:00 +0000

It's official! WoD will be making its international premiere in competition at IDFA (Intl Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam) this November. We are so honored to be included amongst so many incredible documentaries. We've only heard incredible things about the festival and the city so it can't come soon enough! Stay tuned for all the details!

TOKKO stays strong - now in 20 cities

noreply@blogger.com (edgewood pictures) — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 19:12:00 +0000

Thanks to everyone for all the support over the last few months. It's been an incredible adventure thus far. NAGAOKA, TOYAMA, TAKASAKI, OKAYAMA are the new cities added to the growing list of theaters will all be screening TOKKO in the near future. TOKYO has extended its run thru October! :) Check our screenings section for details...and remember that the film is being shown with English and Japanese subtitles so those non-Japanese speakers can go see the movie too! We'll be announcing which country we'll be taking the film next very soon...stay tuned!

TOKKO rolls out to 16 cities!

noreply@blogger.com (edgewood pictures) — Sat, 25 Aug 2007 14:41:00 +0000

TOKKO may be coming to a city near you! Due to all the success in Tokyo, the film will be shown in 16 cities throughout Japan (and the list keeps growing!): Sapporo, Aomori, Yuwate, Miyagi, Yamagata, Fukushima, Tokyo, Kanagawa, Nagoya, Osaka, Kobe, Hiroshima, Ehime, Fukuoka, Kumamoto, Kagoshima. We'll have all the details listed on the website soon. If you can read Japanese then everything is written there already. www.cqn.co.jp/tokko. If you want to see the film and it's not playing in your town, call your local theater and tell them you want it to be screened.

TOKKO opens in other cities in Japan!

noreply@blogger.com (edgewood pictures) — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 07:40:00 +0000

TOKKO will open in cities around Japan starting this Saturday (in Osaka and Yokohama). I'll be in Osaka to welcome audience members on Saturday. Please tell all your friends and family and continue to spread the strong word of mouth! Cities are being added weekly so please check www.cqn.co.jp/tokko or wings of defeat website. The film is being screened with English and Japanese website so everyone can come check it out. :)

USS Drexler and former Kamikaze bring peace

noreply@blogger.com (edgewood pictures) — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 07:21:00 +0000

Fred Mitchell and Gene Brick, survivors of the USS Drexler (2 Kamikaze planes sank their ship sank in 49 seconds) met with Ena san, Hamazono san, and Ueshima san. A tearful and emotional meeting, both parties became fast friends vowing to bury the burden they have carried for over 62 years. Traveling to Chiran in Southern Japan, Gene and Fred were able to visit the Kamikaze museum and hear about the squadron that ultimately sank their ship in 1945. To be able to take part in such a historic moment like this is really the highlight of being a filmmaker.

USS Drexler arrive in Tokyo

noreply@blogger.com (edgewood pictures) — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 08:54:00 +0000

Eugene Brick and Fred Mitchell and family members arrived in Tokyo yesterday. We met them at Narita airport with TV crews on hand to capture every moment. Today, we visited Yasukuni Shrine, and saw Fujii Hajime's photo and bio. Fujii's Kamikaze squadron hit and sank the Drexler in May 1945. It was Gene and Fred's first time encountering the Zero fighters and torpedo shooter planes since the war. Conversations have revolved around what to expect when they have their formal meeting with Ueshima san, Ena san and Hamazono san tomorrow. It will be a historic moment for both sides. Meanwhile, TOKKO continues to pack the theater selling out every screening since the opening last Saturday. We'll be moving to a bigger theater starting Aug 4th...so please continue to spread the word!

TOKKO off to a great start!!

noreply@blogger.com (edgewood pictures) — Sun, 22 Jul 2007 12:56:00 +0000

Thanks to all who came out to see TOKKO this weekend!! Linda and I are still in NYC but heard all the reports of the lines and people patiently waiting to get in. Some folks sat on zabutons and others stood in the back! We are so grateful for all the love and support and most importantly, to know that people are interested in hearing a different side of the story. If you like the movie, PLEASE tell your friends and family. This is how small movies like this survive in a world full of Harry Potters. Help us create some magic! Check out some of the press we have been getting...http://www.reuters.com/article/email/idUST22434520070721, http://www.asahi.com/english/Herald-asahi/TKY200707210080.html

Linda and I are headed to Tokyo tomorrow where we will meet up with the US vets from the USS Drexler, a destroyer that was sunk by 2 Kamikaze planes (and featured in the movie). ANA generously co-sponsored their flight over to Japan so we are delighted to make this historic moment happen for all sides. Peace is possible!!!

Japan press tour is complete...well almost

noreply@blogger.com (edgewood pictures) — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 13:18:00 +0000

I leave Tokyo tomorrow to go back home to NYC, finishing the first leg of this whirlwind of a press tour. We have been so incredibly fortunate with all the support and love for the film. I'll put up pictures once I get back to share some of our favorite moments while in Japan. Linda and I look forward to bringing Gene Brick, Fred Mitchell (survivors of the USS Drexler - sunk by 2 kamikaze planes in May 1945) and their families to Japan to meet some former kamikaze pilots at the end of July. Now that's a gesture for world peace! If you know anyone in Tokyo - the film opens JULY 21. For Osaka and Nagoya, it'll open in August...and for the rest of the country...stay tuned! If you can read Japanese, check out the Japanese website www.cqn.co.jp/tokko.

Premiere in Tokyo

noreply@blogger.com (edgewood pictures) — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 23:34:00 +0000

We had our formal premiere in Tokyo yesterday. Wow...it was far beyond what I could have imagined for our little documentary that could. Every TV news outlet was there standing in the back, the front rows full of press and the audience warm and gracious. We were featured on NHK evening news just a few hours after it ended. Former pilots Ueshima san and Nakajima san were in attendance as well as my family who appear in the film. We were all on stage together and it was one of those moments to remember forever. The CQN (our distributor) staff has been working crazy hours to make our baby a success here. The street word of mouth team is growing - we need all the help that we can keep the momentum going. Thank you to EVERYONE...two more days of press.

Press run in Japan

noreply@blogger.com (edgewood pictures) — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 21:12:00 +0000

Linda and I have had back to back interviews since we landed this past weekend. CQN, our distributor here, has been so gracious - it's hard to be treated so well when you are so used to doing everything yourself! ;P The response has been far beyond our expectations and the press has been very thoughtful with their questions. Everyone is so respectful that it's taken me aback a bit... :) Our big preview screening is tomorrow where many of those who were in the film including the former pilots will be in attendance...so we shall see!

TOKKO/特攻 IN TOKYO JULY 21

noreply@blogger.com (edgewood pictures) — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 00:16:00 +0000

The date is official! Wings of Defeat - released as "TOKKO/特攻” in Japan will open in Tokyo on July 21 and then will follow with a release throughout the country. Our distributor, Cine Qua Non, has been absolutely first rate through the whole process and we are excited to share the pilots' stories with everyone. Linda and I leave for Japan this weekend for a week of press and publicity. Check out the Japanese website www.cqn.co.jp/tokko!!

Director Nishikawa Miwa shares her thoughts

noreply@blogger.com (edgewood pictures) — Sun, 27 May 2007 14:15:00 +0000

Director Nishikawa Miwa (Sway, Wild Berries) is one of the emerging great talents coming out of Japan. She shared her thoughts after watching the film. Our hope is that her statement and the film will encourage young people in Japan to start a dialogue about the ramifications of committing its people to go to war.

"The images from the American battleships are intense. The instant a Japanese kamikaze plane dove onto their ship, American soldiers were plunged into a living hell. The kamikaze were victims of their own government's strategy but they were also made into perpetrators who killed living humans. This plain truth is hard to swallow. We allow weapons to be made, battleships to be built, fighter planes to be commissioned, bombs to be manufactured...Who do we think will use them, who will they be used against?

Every murder in war is committed by humans against other humans. By calling those involved "soldiers" we delude ourselves that they belong to a species apart and strive to turn our backs on all that misery, but this is unforgivable.

This film, by Linda Hoaglund and Risa Morimoto, uncommon true world citizens, tear at our hearts, immune to the forfeiture of human life and show us once again, that the people placed at the frontlines of that "horrible war," were neither demons nor gods, just human beings, capable of both great rage and humor."

- Nishikawa Miwa

「アメリカの軍艦の上で撮られた映像は、鮮烈だった。日本の特攻機が突っ込んで、一瞬にして米兵たちは阿鼻叫喚の地獄に突き落とされるのである。特攻隊の彼らは国策による被害者であると共に、やはり生きた人を殺す加害者にも仕立てられたのだという、当たり前すぎる事実を、またもや噛みしめさせられた。私たちは武器を作ることを許し、軍艦を作ることを許し、戦闘機を作ることを許し、爆弾を作ることを許し、一体それらを誰に使わせて、誰に向けようとしているのだろう。戦争における全ての殺人は、人間の手によるものであり、人間が対象である。私たちはその当事者が、人間とは別種の、「兵士」という、あたかも特殊な生物かのような錯覚をすることで、全ての悲惨さから目を背けようとしているが、そんなことは許されない。リンダ・ホーグランドとリサ・モリモトという稀有な世界人によるこのフィルムは、他人の人生を剥奪することに鈍感になってしまった私たちの心を激しくかきむしり、「恐ろしい戦争」の最前線に置かれた当事者たちは、悪鬼でもなければまた神でもない、怒りもすれば、笑いもする、ただの人間だったのだという事を、もう一度我々に教えてくれる。」

- 西川美和

USS Drexler survivors private screening

noreply@blogger.com (edgewood pictures) — Wed, 23 May 2007 16:07:00 +0000

Linda and I drove down to Philadelphia this past weekend to screen the film privately to the USS Drexler survivors, who were having their annual reunion. Mizuno san from Asahi newspaper joined us for the trip. It was an incredibly emotional viewing...some who were brought to tears- all those distant memories all too clear and vivid. They shared their insight with us (great DVD extras!) after the screening saying how stunned they were that the Kamikaze were just as human as them. And how before they die, they would like to meet former Kamikaze pilots and bury the hatchet. What an incredible moment that would that be...

Bway director Miyamoto weighs in

noreply@blogger.com (edgewood pictures) — Wed, 23 May 2007 11:47:00 +0000

Broadway director Miyamoto Amon (Pacific Overtures) kindly shares his sentiments after watching Wings of Defeat.

「特攻隊は少年だった！」。解っていた思っていたはずの事実に息を呑みました。そして、特攻隊であったことが、彼らのその後の人生にどれほどの重みになっていたかを知りました。改めて教育の大切さを痛感します。攻めた方も攻められた方も、そこには愛おしい人間たちが精一杯生きていたのですね。私は、人ではなく、戦争そのものを憎みます。
—宮本亜門

So, it turns out the Kamikaze were just teenagers! I could not help but hold my breath at the truth about everything I thought I knew and understood. And also marvel at the heavy burden having been a Kamikaze placed on the rest of these men’s lives. I marvel yet again, at the critical power of education. Both those who attacked and those who were attacked, lived their precious lives, as best they knew how.
It is not humans I hate, but war itself.
Miyamoto Amon

Kirino and Sakamoto reflect on WOD

noreply@blogger.com (edgewood pictures) — Sat, 19 May 2007 12:59:00 +0000

Author Kirino Natsuo (Out, Grotesque) and director Sakamoto Junji (Aegis, Face) generously offered their comments after watching the film.

Let’s Find Out by Kirino Natsuo

Who dreamed up this strategy and why? Who authorized its implementation, who were sacrificed to it and what did it accomplish? Without answers to any of these specifics, I am terrified by the current atmosphere, in which ideas like “Defending our country” and “Self-sacrifice,” have taken on a life of their own.

What is especially shocking is that Vice Admiral Onishi, who first orchestrated the Kamikaze attacks, declared it an “Appalling strategy.” Why then, was an avowedly “Appalling” strategy kept in place so long? Let us listen then, to the testimony of the people who appear in the film, Wings of Defeat.

A human being survived, exists and bears witness. See for yourself what a miracle this is.

「知ろう」
誰がどうしてこんな作戦を思いついて、誰が遂行を決定し、どんな人たちが犠牲になって、どれだけの戦果が上がったのか。具体的に知らないままに、「国を守る」とか「自己犠牲」などのイメージが膨張し続けている現状が怖ろしい。
　とりわけ衝撃なのは、特攻を最初に組織化した大西中将が、「外道の統率」と明言していることだろう。では、なぜ「外道」を続けざるを得なかったのか。映画「ＴＯＫＫＯ/特攻」に表れる人々の証言を、ぜひとも聞こうではないか。
　一人の人間が生きて、存在して、語る。それがどんなに凄いことかが、よくわかる。

桐野夏生

I believe this film will stimulate controversy. I’m confident that this film will spur fervent discussion: “I felt that way, too,” or “No, I never felt that way,” and they will all be right. All the criticisms Japan faces from abroad are based in how Japan behaved back then. But I think that we, the Japanese, have the greatest misconceptions about what happened then. So many twist and bend what happened back then to their own purposes, touting a grandiose future. Real history resides not in textbooks, nor in documents. It is to be found in vulnerable human voices, testifying to the past. The people who worked on this film, seeking out their witness, are commendable. I think it’s time to watch this film and abandon our misconceptions. Let us find suspect those who hold ideological sway over the past. We should express more interest in the lives of others. We are only human, nevertheless, Japanese. We are only Japanese, nevertheless, human.
- Sakamoto Junji

この映画は議論を呼ぶと思う。あの時代を生きた人たちが、いい、悪いではなく、私もそうだった、いや、私は違ったと、議論は白熱すると思う。多分、どちらも正しいと思う。海外で日本人を評する根源は、すべて、あの時代にある。でも、最も誤解をしているのは、日本人ではないだろうか。ねじ曲げ、都合のいいように解釈し、日本人の未来をエラそうに語る輩がなんと多いことか。本当の歴史は、教科書の中にはない。文献の中にもない。無防備に語る人々の肉声の中にこそあるのだ。その無防備な肉声を聞き出したスタッフは、偉い。この映画を観て、そろそろ誤解をやめよう。人が一方的に伝える解釈を疑ってみよう。人は、他人の人生にもっと興味を持たなくては。たかが、人間、されど、日本人。たかが、日本人、されど、人間。

阪本順治

WOD is going to Japan!

noreply@blogger.com (edgewood pictures) — Wed, 09 May 2007 22:42:00 +0000

We've been waiting to make it official...and now it is! Wings of Defeat will be screening theatrically in Japan this summer! Cine Qua Non, famous for distributing films like Shiri, JSA, and the recent hit Hula Girls, has picked up our film for its theaters in Japan and Korea. We'll be going over in June for press and promotion with an expected July release. We'll start off in Tokyo and then move from there...please tell your friends in Japan to come watch a film that they have undoubtedly never seen. We've received enormous amount of support so far - thank you for helping to share the stories of these men who endured the ultimate hardship and lived to tell us about it.

Back from Hot Docs

noreply@blogger.com (edgewood pictures) — Sat, 28 Apr 2007 21:18:00 +0000

A quick 1 hour flight and I am back in the Big Apple. Hot Docs was an incredible experience. We sold out the second screening and had an great Q&A afterwards. The Toronto audiences seem genuinely interested in documentaries...they showed up even in the pouring rain! Met lots of great people from around the world as well as some fellow New Yorkers. NHK and Asahi newspaper covered the screenings - apparently we were on the morning news! We are gearing up for the Japan theatrical release so stay tuned for further details. Thanks to everyone for all their support and love.

Report for Hot Docs

noreply@blogger.com (edgewood pictures) — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 15:44:00 +0000

Thanks so everyone for coming out last night. The love was definitely in the air! We sold out the 600-seat house at the Isabel Bader Theater! When the lights dimmed, I got so emotional seeing all these years culminating into this one moment. Linda and I got on stage to answer questions afterwards...it took my father-in-law Artie to break the ice and ask the first question. :) Will get some pics online as soon as I can.

Afterwards, Nozomi and Josh hosted a wonderful dinner at Dynasty Restaurant. Hugs and love to my honey, ML, Artie, mom, obachan, Nil, Kari, Billy, Maya, Joe, Jef, John, Irene, Nozomi, Josh and Mizuno san for coming out to support us! We look forward to the next screening tomorrow at 4! stay tuned.