Box Office Film #2

Letters from Iwo Jima

The story of the battle of Iwo Jima between the United States and Imperial Japan during World War II, as told from the perspective of the Japanese who fought in it. We picked this movie because it is a different way to look at the war. It presents the battle from the Japanese history instead of American history.

Picture Book #2

Here is a book entitled Yoon and the Christmas Mitten by Helen Recorvits.

This book tells the story of Yoon, a young Korean immigrant. Yoon learns about Christmas traditions from her new American teacher. She comes home from school, very excited about what she has heard about “Mr. Santa Claus.” Her parents tell her that they are not a Christmas family. They insist that they will celebrate the same way that they did back in Korea. However, after Yoon begs her parents to let her hang a mitten for Santa to fill, her parents have a change of heart and allow her to hang her Christmas mitten. This is a story about immigrants learning to accept new traditions while still keeping their old ones.

Box Office Film #1

Last Train Home

This is a film about migrant factory workers in China’s cities. Each year, at the time of the Chinese New Year, these workers leave the cities to go home to their families in the rural villages. It is the largest human migration in the world. “The Last Train Home” follows the Zhang family, who abandoned their children 16 years ago to work in the city. They hoped that with their wages they would be able to give their children a better life. However, their absence takes a toll on their daughter Qin. She rebels, drops out of school, and faces a future as a migrant worker as well. This film helps us learn much about the way of life in China, a country that is discarding its traditional values as it pushes towards global economic dominance.

Piece of Art #1

Here is a woodblock print by the famous Japanese artist Hokusai called The Great Wave of Kanagawa.

We chose this piece of art because it is one of the most famous pieces in Japan. It was one of the first pieces of Asian artwork appreciated by the Western world. The piece also includes Mount Fugi, the most well known landmark of Japan.

Picture Book #1

Here is a book entitled Ugly Vegetables by Grace Lin.

The book is about a girl and her mom who grow a garden and with the produce from the garden make an Asian dish. The dish smells so good that everyone in the neighborhood comes to try the Asian food.

This picture book shows the differences between Asian food and American food. It also demonstrates how even if you are not of Asian descent, you can enjoy the wonderful dishes of this culture.

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