Woodside hosted screenings of the film “Kintsukuroi” starring Woodside’s own alumni, Kealani Kitaura.
The film, directed by local Kerwin Berk, tells the story of the Ito’s, a Japanese-American family from San Francisco, life in the Japanese internment camps and in the Japanese-American special unit during World War II. The screenings were held at the Performing Arts Center (PAC) Sept. 18-21 in coordination with the Big Read.
The Big Read, an annual tradition at Woodside, highlighted the book “Facing the Mountain” by Daniel James Brown. The book tells the story of second-generation Japanese, or Nisei, soldiers. While looking deeper into the topic, Lisa Camera, chair of the Big Read committee, discovered the film. Karen “Seiko” Peterson, an alumni, producer of Woodside productions, and member of the Big Read Committee, volunteered to attend one of the Sacramento screenings and told the committee that it was the right choice. Peterson highlighted the importance of the film’s subject matter.
“The challenge to the [family] dynamics when approached with the decision to be drafted in the 442nd Battalion was faced by many of the interned families while in the prison camps,” Peterson said. “My own uncle was drafted as a third-generation [or] sansei and he left behind his family with a toddler. I told the committee the events in the film were very meaningful to our families.”
Principal Karen van Putten explained “Kintsukuroi” is a Japanese art form where broken pieces of pottery are mended using lacquer dusted with gold. Van Putten emphasized how this title and the topics of the film connect to the themes of courage and resilience for this year’s Big Read.
“This [Japanese] concept of taking some broken piece, whether it’s humanity or a spirit or an actual pottery piece, is that you actually strengthen it with an even more beautiful hardening substance,” Van Putten said. “I think the theme of courage and resilience weaves beautifully… and that the screening is totally in line with the Nisei soldiers and their struggles and the Japanese American families who were citizens and yet treated as second class citizens.”
The lead actress of “Kintsukuroi”, Kitaura, is a Woodside alumni. While she was at Woodside, Kitaura played badminton and tennis but did not do drama. It was not until college that she took an interest in acting.
“I initially started [acting] after college,” Kitaura said. “I started taking some acting classes just because I thought that it would help me develop interpersonal skills, and also just make me step out of my comfort zone. I started going out and auditioning for things. I really enjoyed just meeting other creative filmmakers and actors. It’s just kind of how things ended up.”
Kitaura was originally a producer for Kitsukuroi when it was a short film in 2018. When the director was given a grant to produce a feature film the original lead actress had moved to Los Angeles. So the director offered the role to Kitaura.
“It was an honor,” Kitaura said. “All four of my grandparents went to camps so it was a very meaningful project for me to be a part of and to portray this experience.”
Kitaura offers advice to current Woodside students.
“If there’s something that interests you, just go for it. Try it out, and don’t let fear stop you from doing it,” Kitaura said.
