PROGRAM 47

MONDAY, MAY 3 | GOING AGAINST THE GRAIN | 9:15 PM | NCPD

GOING AGAINST THE GRAIN TRT: 102 min.
Truths can sometimes be stranger than fiction, as seen in this penetrating complement of non-fiction works. Those who dare to dream of bigger and better things must be prepared for hardships and setbacks. Sometimes, the willingness to expand horizons and unite for bigger and better things in spite of insurmountable obstacles is all that matters.
– Abraham Ferrer

DATE: MONDAY, MAY 3
TIME: 9:15 PM
VENUE: NCPD
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ANGEL ISLAND PROFILES: ROBERT HONG (United States, 2009) Dir.: Jeffrey Gee Chin Robert Hong, an 85 year-old WWII veteran, shares his experiences as an immigrant, from his beginnings growing up in a predominantly bachelor society and slaving away as a houseboy. Despite grueling hardships, he instead strove to work harder to provide similar opportunities for others. Video, 6 min., color, documentary

WELCOME TO MY QUEER BOOKSTORE Dir.: Larry Tung Located in Taipei, Taiwan, Gin Gin’s Bookstore is the one and only bookstore dedicated to the LGBT community in the Chinese-speaking world. Celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2009, the bookstore has played a very important role in Taiwan’s LGBT movement. In 2003, a lawsuit was brought against J. J Lai, the owner of the store, for selling gay pictorials imported from Hong Kong. He lost the case but it has since generated many discussions on LGBT rights in the public sphere. The bookstore has also become an iconic space in Taiwan’s gay culture, hosting numerous public forums, book signing and promotional activities for gay films and television shows. This documentary takes a closer look at Gin Gin’s and J.J. Lai, and their struggles and contributions to Taiwan’s LGBT movement. Video, 19 min., color, documentary

FORTUNE COOKING Dir.: Jason Karman As an immigrant, Sam Lau took up cooking as a means of survival. Following a glowing review, he managed to keep his restaurant open for another six months. He was able to show his skills as an artist, but high expectations and low prices made for an unfortunate combination. Video, 10 min., color, documentary

OUT OF INFAMY: MICHI NISHIURA WEGLYN Dirs.: Nancy Kapitanoff, Sharon Yamato After eight years as the costume designer for the Perry Como Show, Michi Nishiura Weglyn (1926-1999) gave up a successful career in show business in the mid-1960s to write the book, ‘Years of Infamy: The Untold Story of America’s Concentration Camps.’ Providing factual evidence of governmental misconduct in the incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II, the award-winning book, published in 1976, was hailed as the ‘Bible of 20th Century Japanese Americans.’ ‘Out of Infamy’ paints a portrait of Weglyn’s dynamic personality, which evolved via incarceration in the Gila River, Arizona camp from California-born farm girl to New York City sophisticate to the Rosa Parks of Japanese Americans. Video, 18 min., color/black & white, documentary

THE OAK PARK STORY Dirs.: Valerie Soe, Russel Jeung The Oak Park Story recounts the experience of a broad, multiethnic coalition–undocumented residents from Mexico, a European American minister, Cambodian refugees, college students and others–at the Oak Park apartments in Oakland, CA who in 2000 won an historic settlement of almost one million dollars against their exploitative property owner. The film looks at multiethnic coalitions and innovative community organizing, recounting the journey of a group of neighbors that changed their neighborhood and made a home for themselves. Video, 22 min., color, documentary

POINT OF ENTRY Dir.: Zeus Quijano At 15 years old, Carlos crossed the border, leaving his family. At 30, he continues to help his family back home in Mexico as well as his wife and kids in America. Today, Carlos struggles with a stagnant economy and a family in Mexico that still hopes that he will someday return to them. Video, 27 min., color, documentary