A Flicker in Eternity
(2012) color, TRT 25 mins, documentary
A Flicker in Eternity is the coming-of-age tale of Stanley Hayami, a talented young teenager caught between his dream of becoming a writer/artist and his duty to his country. Based on Hayami’s own diary (like the book, Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl), this documentary is the firsthand account of a 16-year-old boy thrust into the turmoil of World War II and is a poignant reminder of the indignity of incarceration and the tragedy of war. Through Stanley’s endearing cartoons and witty observations, this film chronicles his life behind barbed wire and as a soldier in the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. It is based on his diary and letters, which are archived at the Japanese American National Museum, and Joanne Oppenheim’s book, Stanley Hayami, Nisei Son.
Featuring
Voice overs…………………… Aaron Yoo (Stanley) and Amy Hill (Sach)
Credits
Producers……………………. Ann Kaneko, Joanne Oppenheim, Sharon Yamato
Directors……………………… Ann Kaneko, Sharon Yamato
Writers……………………….. Joanne Oppenheim, Sharon Yamato
Editors……………………….. Ann Kaneko, Walt Louie
Cinematography……………. Ann Kaneko
Animation…………………… José Acosta, Hedy Yudaw
Original music………………. Dave Iwataki
Sound design……………….. Jon K.Y. Oh
Consultants………..………… Arthur Hansen, Sojin Kim
The film has screened at the Asian American International Film Festival, the United Nations Association Film Festival, the Seattle Asian American Film Festival, the Asians on Film Festival, the AMDOCS Film Festival, the DisOrient Film Festival and the GI Film Festival. It was awarded Best Documentary Short at the Asians on Film Festival and DisOrient Film Festival.
“A Flicker in Eternity creatively documents and insightfully interprets the World War II concentration camp and overseas battlefield experiences of an intelligent, ambitious, and upbeat Japanese American teenager, Stanley Hayami.”
– Arthur A. Hansen, Emeritus Professor, History, Cal State University, Fullerton
“I smiled warmly over the words and art of Hayami – and then ached when I learned of the sad ending to his promising life. . . .The film is a beautiful telling of a story of one who did not come back from the war.”
– Tom Ikeda, Executive Director, Densho: The Japanese American Legacy Project
“My hope is that present-day teens will be inspired by Stan’s optimism, in spite of all the obstacles that were put in his way. So often young people feel that they are the only ones who are dished up tough times, and because they have limited experience, they often cannot see the end of it. The tragedy of Stan’s life was that he never got to live his dreams…but it was not from lack of trying.”
– Joanne Oppenheim, Author, Stanley Hayami: Nisei Son
For more information about the film and purchasing, please visit
flickerineternity.com