Background Information 

The History of Redress and the CWRIC Hearings

The Japanese American Redress Movement was a multi-pronged community effort to seek justice for the forced incarceration of over 120,000 Japanese and Japanese Americans during World War II. In 1980, the U.S. government established the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians (CWRIC) to investigate the causes and consequences of this mass incarceration. The CWRIC held hearings across the country in 1981, providing a platform for Japanese Americans to share their personal testimonies, many for the first time, about the trauma of wartime incarceration and its lasting impact. The Chicago hearings were particularly significant as the city was a major site of post-war resettlement for Japanese Americans. Alongside other prominent efforts for reparations, these hearings ultimately led to the Civil Liberties Act of 1988, which granted a formal presidential apology and financial reparations to survivors of incarceration.

About Reckoning with Redress

This creative reenactment is part of Reckoning with Redress: Reflecting Community Memories, a cinematic digital history project that explores the Japanese American Redress Movement and its relevance to contemporary conversations on reparations. Reckoning with Redress is the third installment in a trilogy of digital history projects, following The Orange Story (2017), which depicted the forced removal of Japanese Americans in 1942, and Resettlement: Chicago Story (2023), which examined the post-war resettlement experience. This project aims to educate audiences through immersive storytelling, ensuring that the history of Japanese American incarceration and redress remains relevant and accessible to new generations.

About Full Spectrum Features 

Full Spectrum Features (FSF) and its educational division, Full Spectrum Education (FSE), use the power of film to drive equity, amplify underrepresented narratives, and foster deeper public understanding of complex social and historical issues. FSF produces and distributes films that highlight the experiences of women, BIPOC, disabled, and LGBTQIA+ filmmakers, advancing a more inclusive independent film industry. FSE extends this mission into education, creating multimedia learning tools and open-access resources that center histories often overlooked in the national narrative. 

Through community-driven storytelling and interactive digital learning platforms, FSF and FSE spark empathetic learning, public engagement, and systems change. With projects like The Orange Story and Resettlement: Chicago Story, and our in-production Reckoning with Redress, we bring history to life through scripted short films paired with robust educational materials. In 2024, FSE became one of the only film production organizations certified by the Illinois State Board of Education to provide accredited professional development for educators, further solidifying its impact in advancing educational justice.