New Film American Pastime Swings for the Fences at the Library

By Steve Fjeldsted
South Pasadena City Librarian

On Thursday, August 23rd at 7:00 p.m. the South Pasadena Public Library and the Friends of the South Pasadena Public Library proudly present a free Author Night program with Kerry Nakagawa, as well as a screening of American Pastime, an award-winning new feature film. The event is co-sponsored by The Bissell House Bed & Breakfast and Poets & Writers, Inc. with financial support from the James Irvine Foundation.  The doors of the Community Room at 1115 El Centro Street will open at 6:30 p.m. No tickets or reservations are necessary.

American Pastime was produced by Barry Rosenbush (creator of High School Musical) who spent 5 years turning his fascination with internment camp baseball into a compelling motion picture. It was directed by Desmond Nakano who also directed the racial drama White Man’s Burden with John Travolta and Harry Belafonte. The film recently enjoyed a theatrical run in select cities around the country, including showings at the Smithsonian Museum, the Cooperstown National Hall of Fame and Museum, and the Japanese American National Museum. It’s also been well-received on the film festival circuit.

The film is a tour de force based on actual events surrounding a baseball team that played out of a Japanese internment camp in Topaz, Utah in 1944. Using World War II as a backdrop, it features wonderful acting from Aaron Yoo, who plays Lyle, a sax-playing star pitcher who was headed for the majors before he was incarcerated. Also prominent is Gary Cole, whose stellar credits include Talladega Nights, Office Space, and Breach, portraying the prejudiced, past-his-prime catcher named Billy who works as a guard at the camp. Tensions really heat up when Lyle falls for Billy's beautiful musician daughter played by Sarah Drew.  Many other excellent performances stand out, including those by Napoleon Dynamite co-star Jon Gries, television actress Susanna Thompson, and John Kruk from “Baseball Tonight” on ESPN.

The plot follows the Nomura family, who run a successful East Los Angeles business before the outbreak of the War. It combines a Romeo and Juliet–type romance, a ‘you-can’t-guess-the-ending’ baseball tale, and the inspiring, often overlooked story of American citizens imprisoned by their own government. The spirit-filled motion picture compellingly explores many other cogent themes and stands as a tribute to the strength of those who endured so many great hardships.Through a Diamond: 100 Years of Japanese American Baseball, an acclaimed, authoritative book by historian Kerry Nakagawa preceded American Pastime. Nakagawa also appears in the film and served as Associate Director. Nakagawa, who has spoken at many prestigious venues, will introduce the film and recount his personal odyssey from the book’s inception to the film’s completion.

The Library show will open with the screening of a 10 minute excerpt of Nakagawa’s behind-the-scenes footage. The very special footage is included as part of the extras included on the DVD that will be available for purchase at the event. More information at http:warnervideo.com/americanpastime and www.niseibaseball.com The 105-minute film is rated PG. Special thanks for help with outreach are due to the South Pasadena Chamber of Commerce, the South Pasadena Review and Time Warner Cable, Channel 19.  On September 6th at 6:00 p.m. the South Pasadena Public Library, the Friends of the South Pasadena Public Library, and the South Pasadena Chamber of Commerce will proudly present nationally-acclaimed bestselling author David Mas Masumoto in the Library Park outside the Library Community Room facing El Centro Street.  Masumoto, who has earned the title “America’s Literary Farmer,” will be preceded by a live performance by drummers from the Taiko Center of Los Angeles. Special thanks to South Pasadena Community Services.
Masumoto is the author of Epitaph For A Peach: Four Seasons on My Family Farm, Harvest Son, Planting Roots in American Soil, Four Seasons in Five Senses: Things Worth Savoring, and Letters to the Valley: A Harvest of Memories. All of his books will be for sale at the event.