Omoiyari: A Song Film by Kishi Bashi
with the artist in personThis uplifting film follows violinist Kishi Bashi on a musical journey to understand WWII era Japanese Incarceration and what it means to be a minority in America today.
When a media interview links the Muslim ban and the immigration crisis at the USA-Mexico border with the incarceration of Japanese-Americans during WWII, Ishibashi goes on a journey to learn about this history and its relevance. Along the way, he improvises and writes music in an effort to better understand his own identity as a bi-cultural American.
Using never before seen archival footage from the camps, mixed with breathtaking visual storytelling, Kaoru weaves a story using history, music and current events to create a portrait of America from the perspective of someone caught between two worlds. This thoughtful and uplifting documentary celebrates–and is itself an example of–art that has the power to explain how systems of injustice persist and make the project of dismantling them feel incredibly urgent.
D: Justin Taylor and Kaoru Ishibashi, US, 2022, 1h37m
Kishi Bashi is the moniker of singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Kaoru Ishibashi. A virtuoso violinist and Berklee College of Music alumnus, he has toured with renowned artists such as Regina Spektor and of Montreal before embarking on a critically acclaimed solo career. His 2012 debut album, 151a, earned NPR's Bob Boilen's praise as "a radiant, uplifting soundscape" and launched him onto major festival stages, including SXSW and Austin City Limits.
In addition to creating cinematic, genre-blending music that spans orchestral rock, city pop, and Brazilian jazz, Kishi Bashi is a storyteller at heart. His 2019 album and documentary, Omoiyari, explored themes of compassion and the incarceration of Japanese Americans during WWII, earning global recognition. He has also scored the Apple TV+ series Stillwater and released the companion album Emigrant EP.
In 2024, Kishi Bashi released his fifth studio album, Kantos (August 23), a kaleidoscopic journey inspired by sci-fi, philosophy and ancient ruins. A boundary-pushing artist, Kishi Bashi continues to captivate audiences worldwide with his vibrant, thought-provoking artistry.
“a radiant, uplifting soundscape”
NPR
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