Watch Journey Interrupted

Journey Interrupted is a heart-wrenching drama movie that takes us on an emotional roller coaster through the struggles of a Japanese American teenage girl named Anna during WWII. The movie portrays the adverse effects of wartime hysteria, racism, and injustice inflicted upon the Japanese Americans living in the United States during World War II.

The story begins in 1942 when President Roosevelt signs an executive order ordering the internment of all American citizens with Japanese heritage into concentration camps, citing national security concerns. Anna, a high school senior, and her family are among those affected and were forced to leave their home and belongings behind. They were taken to an internment camp in California, where they were forced to live in inhumane conditions, behind barbed wire fences, and under the watchful eyes of armed guards.

Anna's world turned upside down as she watched her father being taken away, and all her friends and classmates were ripped away from her life. She struggled to find hope and joy in a situation that seemed hopeless. Anna found solace in her faith and the kind-hearted young man, Wayne Blakely, who takes an interest in her and eventually becomes her boyfriend.

Throughout the movie, we see the impact of the internment on Anna and her mother, who struggled to keep her family together and keep their spirits up. We also see the courage and rebellion of a few individuals like Michael Carducci, a Christian pastor, who refused to remain silent, and journalist James Omura, who revealed the truth about the inhumane conditions in the concentration camps to the world. These individuals and a few others stood up and fought against the injustice and bigotry that had befallen their community.

The movie showcases the struggles, humiliations, and injustices these individuals faced, the loss of dignity, the loss of liberty, and the loss of everything they had ever known. It illustrates the ways in which the internment camps disrupted and damaged families and communities. Through Anna's journey, the movie gives us an up-close and personal look at the physical, emotional, and psychological turmoil caused by this traumatic experience.

The movie makes a strong impression that resonates long after you watch it. It's not just a story about one young girl and her family, but a story about the resilience and strength of the human spirit in a time of darkness.

The cast of the movie did an exceptional job of portraying their respective characters, but the standout performances were by Anna and Wayne Blakely, played by Saki Miata and Michael Ryan respectively. The two brought their characters to life and their performances were compelling and moving. Wayne's character especially stirred our hearts with his compassion and courage in a time when it was dangerous to show it.

The movie also does a great job of weaving actual historical events and people into the story, making it an educational and informative experience for the audience. The ending of the movie is neither too happy nor too grim but is a hopeful and realistic conclusion, that leaves the audience thinking about the lingering effects of the internment, and the long road to healing and reconciliation.

Overall, Journey Interrupted is an outstanding piece of filmmaking that tells an important and essential story about the American experience. It's a poignant reminder of the dangers authoritarianism and bigotry, and the need to fight for justice and equality for all citizens. I highly recommend this movie to anyone interested in history, social justice, or human rights, as it provides a powerful lesson that we should never forget.

Journey Interrupted is a 2017 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour.