Watch Kids' Reviews of
UNDER THE BLOOD RED SUN

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"Under the Blood Red Sun" is a great film and gives adults and children who watch it together a great deal of things to talk about- friendship, self-identity, prejudice, facing bullies and being an American. The film gives a picture of some very little known facts about that era. The emblem on the Japanese flag is a "Red Sun". The attack of the Japanese on Pearl Harbor was "under the Blood Red Sun". Life changes for everyone after the Japanese attack. A curfew, there's a blackout, and there's martial law. Suspicion that the Japanese people like Tomi's grandpa and father were giving information to the Japanese. This is a tale of courage, friendship and how a family survives.

I recommend "Under the Blood Red Sun" to play at a film festival and any of the partner venues. It tells a story of events that happens at historical time in our country and shows the workings of courage of a young man, family togetherness as they go through rough times. Tomi has to take on responsibilities as the man of the house when Papa Nakaji (Chris Tashima) is arrested for being a Japanese fisherman and his Grampa (Dann Seki) is taken also. It has elements of prejudice, bullying when Tomi faces Keet Wilson (Bryce Moore) son of the family who provides a place to live and employment for his mother, Kimi Nakaji (Mina Kohara).

The production values are high enough to meet big screen standards. Hawaii is the location and the photography is outstanding capturing the geographical and horticultural beauty of the island throughout the film. The costumes reflect the time and look authentic. The soundtrack is good and fits the scenes

A 13-year-old Japanese boy faces monumental adversity in 1941 Hawaii, when the Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor. Under the Blood-Red Sun is the film adaptation of Graham Salisbury's award-winning novel of the same name, which is required reading in many middle and high schools across the United States. It is set in 1941 and is the story of a 13-year-old Japanese boy, Tomi Nakaji, his family and his best friend (a Caucasian boy) at the time of the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Tomi's idyllic world in paradise is forever changed when Japan launches a surprise attack against the U.S. and all Japanese Americans are suddenly seen as enemies of the state. Tomi's father, a fisherman, is immediately taken prisoner in an internment camp and his partner and friend is shot and killed. It's a story of courage, honor, strength, friendship and loyalty against seemingly insurmountable odds.