It’s Memorial Day and as we remember those Americans who fought and died for our country, we should also remember that many of these soldiers were Asian Americans. Hollywood has produced its share of war movies, but when you usually see Asian faces in them, they are that of the enemy. However, here are five films that buck that pattern and acknowledge the existence of Asian Americans in the U.S. military. In no particular order:
1) WE WERE SOLDIERS (2002)
Director: Randall Wallace
When Asians appear in a Vietnam War film, they are almost always the faceless, pajama-clad bad guys. But in this big screen account of the 1965 Battle of la Drang, Wallace and a pre-mental breakdown Mel Gibson not only portray the Vietcong with more depth than in previous Hollywood movies, but also include the character of Jimmy Nakayama, a real-life Japanese American soldier who fought and died by friendly fire on the battlefield. Played by Honorary Offender/Tokyo Drift villain Brian Tee, Nakayama’s on screen death includes a poignant moment where he asks a reporter to tell his wife and newborn child that he loves them–succinctly driving home the film’s signature line with an emotional wallop that humanizes the cost of war.
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