The Book of Distance

In 1935, Yonezo Okita left his home in Hiroshima, Japan, and began a new life in Canada. Then war and state-sanctioned racism changed everything - he became the enemy. Three generations later, his grandson, artist Randall Okita, leads us on an interactive virtual pilgrimage through an emotional geography of immigration and family to recover what was lost.

What we know about our grandparents and family history often comes in bits and pieces. The Book of Distance is my attempt to recover those things my grandfather didn’t say - including moments that may have been too painful for him to remember. I wanted to reimagine what he lived through, to recreate an experience that allows others to participate and to bear witness.

PRODUCTION: David Oppenheim – National Film Board of Canada
145 Wellington St. W Suite 1000
M5J 1H8 – Toronto, Canada
Tel. +1 4169730904
l.desormiers@nfb.ca
http://www.nfb.ca

WORLD SALES: Nathalie Bourdon - National Film Board of Canada
145 Wellington St. W Suite 1000
M5J 1H8 – Toronto, Canada
Tel. +1 514 995 0095
N.Bourdon@nfb.ca
https://www.nfb.ca/distribution/

PRESS OFFICE: Jennifer Mair - National Film Board of Canada
145 Wellington St. W Suite 1000
M5J 1H8 – Toronto, Canada
Mob. +1 416)436-0105
J.Mair@nfb.ca