❤️ Honorable Mention CIAIFF 2025
Giovani Abitante

In this project, I used AI to reconstruct a forgotten chapter of history: the forced internment of over 120,000 Japanese Americans during World War II. This documentary is the result of extensive research, based on original photographs, archival documents, and firsthand testimonies. The visuals are based on the censored images of Dorothea Lange, commissioned by the U.S. government but later suppressed for decades. With AI, I have brought these photographs to life, recreating the world within them while remaining faithful to historical reality. The voices in this film are real. They come from survivors, their families, and historians, collected through interviews and documentaries. Every word is authentic, preserving the memories of those who endured this injustice. History is defined by what we choose to remember and how we tell it. While no image or recording can fully capture the past, technology allows us to reconstruct moments that were hidden or erased.

This project is not just about revisiting history, it is about giving voice to those who were silenced. At a time when divisions are resurfacing and racial tensions are escalating, remembering the past is more important than ever. Hatred and fear can spiral out of control, leading to injustices that consume societies from within. Understanding history is not just about looking back; it is about remaining aware to prevent the same mistakes from happening again.

Directed by Giovanni Abitante Sound Design by Tommaso Zerbini Testimonies: Marion Takehara, June Berk, Mas Hashimoto, Linda Gordon, Paul Kitagaki, Satsuki Ina, Paul Tomita, Yoji Matsushima Sources: FULL INTERVIEW: Marion Takehara discusses life in Japanese internment camps 80 years later    • FULL INTERVIEW: Marion Takehara discusses …   Japanese Internment Camp Survivors Speak Out    • Japanese Internment Camp Survivors Speak Out   Racism and America’s Concentration Camps | Mas Hashimoto | TEDxMeritAcademy    • Racism and America’s Concentration Camps |…   Picturing Japanese American Internment: Dorothea Lange https://www.pbslearningmedia.org/reso… Diary Reveals Reality of Living in a WWII Japanese Internment Camp | NowThis    • Video   I Was Sent to a US Concentration Camp | I Was There    • I Was Sent to a US Concentration Camp | I …   Life In A US Japanese American Internment Camp | Oregon Experience    • Life In A US Japanese American Internment …