100% Human Hair

Ever since the onset of her dementia, reality, dream and nightmare have become intertwined for Rose, making her something like a maverick time traveler. Her filmmaker daughter Rea Tajiri is also her caregiver. In this fond portrait, she visualizes Rose’s spiritual, philosophical and sometimes surprisingly specific stories in the order they come: a non-linear sequence illustrated by her own footage shot over many years, accompanied by snatches of conversations and images from the family archive. Rose’s eventful journey through time is rich with memories and sensitively accompanied by a fitting soundtrack.

From the majestic peaks of the snow-capped Sierras to the parched valley of Payahuunadü, “the land of flowing water,” MANZANAR, DIVERTED: WHEN WATER BECOMES DUST poetically weaves together memories of intergenerational women. Native Americans, Japanese-American WWII incarcerees and environmentalists form an unexpected alliance to defend their land and water from Los Angeles.

This documentary, filmed between 2001 and 2005, tells the story of four Peruvian visual artists: Claudio Jiménez Quispe, a retablo maker from Ayacucho; Alfredo Márquez, an art activist; Eduardo Tokeshi, a renowned Nikkei artist; and Natalia Iguiñiz, an artist and photographer. It showcases their work and their struggle to remain active and creative amidst a repressive social and governmental regime.