Beginning with the simple question “Why don’t I like tomatoes?”, Blue Garden tells the story of a Japanese fisherman—the filmmaker’s grandfather—and how he found himself working on a tomato farm. The film gives him the opportunity to recount his journey and help break the silence around the difficult experiences of Japanese citizens interned in Canadian camps during the Second World War. Archival images and animations are paired with the voices of different generations, conversing in both English and Japanese. By making space for dialogue on past traumas, the filmmaker explores the consequences of silence on future generations and uses film to ensure that these stories continue to be heard.
— Editorial Team

competition : Short and Medium-Length National Competition

Blue Garden