POV Season 12 Episode 6 Rabbit In The Moon

In POV season 12 episode 6, titled "Rabbit In The Moon," viewers are taken on a journey through the history of internment camps for Japanese Americans during World War II. The film focuses on the experiences of three Japanese American women who were forced into the camps as children.

The film starts with personal stories of what life was like growing up for these women before the war. They talk about the discrimination they faced in school and in everyday life because of their Japanese heritage. Their families were all successful in their communities despite the discrimination they faced, but this all changed when the US government rounded up Japanese Americans on the West Coast and incarcerated them in camps.

Viewers get to see rare footage of what life was like inside the camps as the women share their memories. They talk about the crowded living conditions, the barbed wire fences, and the armed guards that surrounded them. One of the women shares an emotional story of being pulled away from her mother when she was just four years old and taken to a separate camp for children. She didn't see her mother again for four years.

The film also explores the role of propaganda in justifying the internment of Japanese Americans. The US government used posters, films, and other media to spread fear and paranoia about Japanese Americans, painting them all as enemy spies. The women discuss the impact this had on them and their families, who were branded as traitors and forced to abandon their homes and businesses.

But despite the horrors they experienced in the camps, the women also share stories of hope, strength, and resilience. They talk about finding moments of joy and community with their fellow internees, and how they tried to make the best of a terrible situation. One of the women talks about how she and her family made a garden in the dusty, barren ground of their camp, creating a space of beauty and life in the midst of all the death and destruction around them.

The film also includes interviews with scholars and experts who help to contextualize the history of internment camps and their legacy today. They discuss how the US government has never formally apologized for what it did to Japanese Americans during the war, and how this has contributed to ongoing traumas for these communities.

But despite this, the women of "Rabbit In The Moon" remain hopeful and committed to sharing their stories with future generations. They talk about the importance of educating people about this dark chapter of American history, and of working towards a more just and equitable society for all. Their resilience and strength in the face of such injustice is truly inspiring.

Overall, "Rabbit In The Moon" is a powerful and moving film that shines a light on a little-known but crucial part of American history. It gives voice to those who experienced the trauma of internment camps firsthand, and helps us all to better understand the ongoing impact of this dark legacy today.