Danny Glover's new film aims to bridge Japan-American prejudices

Fri, Jul 4 02:28 PM

TOKYO (AP) _ Overcoming prejudices lingering since World War II between Japanese and Americans is the theme of a new film featuring and co-produced by American actor Danny Glover. "The Harimaya Bridge," filmed in Kochi, southwestern Japan and San Francisco, is scheduled for worldwide release next year, Glover told the Foreign Corespondents' Club in Japan earlier this week.

Glover, the star of the "Lethal Weapon" series, portrays the main character's brother played by Ben Guillory who harbors a deep mistrust of the Japanese because his father was killed in the conflict. A new friendship forged during a visit to Japan helps the American protagonist overcome his ill feelings.

Tokyo and Washington have long restored political ties, but some survivors of the war struggle to put their suffering behind them. "We're talking about what happens among people," he said of the the first feature film by award-winning director Aaron Woolfolk.

Glover said it was a privilege to have the opportunity to interact with other cultures during the course of his work. Japanese actress Saki Takaoka, who plays a former English teacher whom the protagonist eventually befriends, said shooting in a small Japanese village, where outsiders stand out, had been a learning experience for her.

"Even as a Japanese, it's been a rare experience, and I'm learning a lot about cultural differences," she said, appearing before reporters with Glover.

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