HALF KENNETH

Director: Ken Ochiai
Stars: Avery Dennis, Hunter Dennis, Chris Tashima, Sab Shimono
Year: 2009
Rating: N/R

It would usually not even occur to me to review short films for this blog - if for no other reason than sometimes they can be difficult for the general public to get to and see - but that mindset has been changed for me via the extraordinary Half Kenneth, a short film by director Ken Ochiai that's getting so much praise and critical acclaim around the world ... all of it deserved.

Originally produced by Ochiai as an AFI thesis film, Half Kenneth tells the simple but very effective story of Kenneth Handa, a young Japanese-American teen who - along with his father and younger brother Jo - has been placed into southern California's Manzanar War Relocation Camp since the beginning of World War II. As the film opens, it is three years since their imprisonment, and Kenneth and Jo's father has just died. Immediately, the boys are informed that they will be moved to live with the other orphans in the camp - but Kenneth has other ideas.

He's not an orphan, he insists - in fact, his Caucasian mother lives only hours away ... and Kenneth becomes determined to escape the camp and get back to her. Sneaking aboard a camp infirmary truck making runs outside of the camp for the day, Kenneth is ready to face whatever he must to find his mother - but things get complicated when his little brother Jo sneaks aboard the truck at the last minute, and there's no time to get him off again. With Kenneth now responsible for Jo, the two set off together to find their mother ... not realizing that sometimes, in search of the truth, we don't always find what we seek.

This is a terrific, emotionally-charged film that turns an eye onto a dark period of American history few know, or even think of, today. Avery Dennis gives the exact-right blend of heart, humor and determination to young Kenneth, and Oscar winner Chris Tashima (Best Live-Action Short Film, for 1997's Visas and Virtue) - as the driver of the truck the boys sneak out on - delivers an equally effective performance as the poor guy who finds himself in an impossible position when he discovers the two stowaways.

Most importantly, there is a life and vitality to the film, via the cinematography as well as the authentic performances that Ochiai gets from all his actors (Sab Shimono, how WONDERFUL to see you again; you've been missed!). Never do you get a sense that anyone is "acting" in Half Kenneth; indeed, the feel of the time period, and the emotions of both the characters and storyline the film evokes, almost make the film documentary-like in appearance - an indication of not only director Ochiai's talent, but also of the security of his future as a filmmaker.

If you ever get the chance to see Half Kenneth, via a festival (it's played many of them around the globe) or even online or on DVD - take it. I've seen full-length features that didn't move or involve me half as much as this short film did.

And if you don't believe me, check out the list of awards the film has already garnered: Jury Prize from Directors Guild of America, Governor of Tokyo Award, Best Short Film in Japan Category at the Short Shorts Film Festival (Academy Certified, the largest film festival for short film in Asia), The Sylvia (Best American Short Film - Rome International Film Festival), The Seahorse Award for Best Short Film (Moondance International Film Festival), Best Cinematography Award in the U.S. and Canada from Kodak Film Competition, Third Place in Short Film Category at the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival (Academy Certified), and Semi-Finalist at the Angelus Student Film Festival. ****1/2 - Reel Awesome-Reel Must-See