Of Civil Wrongs and Rights: The Fred Korematsu Story

NEW DOCS

Of the documentaries dealing with the unjust relocation and internment of Americans of Japanese descent during WWII, this cinematic portrait is quite notable. The familiar methods of Fournier (interviews, archival footage, and short re-enacted sequences) are handled here professionally and convincingly. However, the importance of the film rests with the detailed story of one man, Fred Korematsu, who even though denounced by many in the Japanese-American community, legally challenged the constitutionality of his relocation and internment orders. With the help of the ACLU, Korematsu took his case before a supposedly liberal Supreme Court. This is a must-see film for anyone interested in the cause of civil rights.

Director

Eric Paul Fournier

Producers

Dorka Keehn, the Korematsu Film Project

Release Year

2000

Festival Year

2001

Country

United States

Run Time

60 minutes