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Unwanted Soldiers

This documentary tells the personal story of filmmaker Jari Osborne's father, a Chinese-Canadian veteran. She describes her father's involvement in World War II and uncovers a legacy of discrimination and racism against British Columbia's Chinese-Canadian community. Sworn to secrecy for decades, Osborne's father and his war buddies now vividly recall their top-secret missions behind enemy lines in Southeast Asia. Theirs is a tale of young men proudly fighting for a country that had mistreated them. This film does more than reveal an important period in Canadian history. It pays moving tribute to a father's quiet heroism.
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This documentary tells the personal story of filmmaker Jari Osborne's father, a Chinese-Canadian veteran. She describes her father's involvement in World War II and uncovers a legacy of discrimination and racism against British Columbia's Chinese-Canadian community. Sworn to secrecy for decades, Osborne's father and his war buddies now vividly recall their top-secret missions behind enemy lines in Southeast Asia. Theirs is a tale of young men proudly fighting for a country that had mistreated them. This film does more than reveal an important period in Canadian history. It pays moving tribute to a father's quiet heroism.

Cultural Diversity and Multiculturalism History - Canada - 1920-1945 Social Issues War, Conflict and Peace All subjects
  • director
    Jari Osborne
  • script
    Jari Osborne
  • producer
    Karen King-Chigbo
  • executive producer
    Louise Lore
  • camera
    Michael Grippo
  • editing
    Steve Weslak
  • sound recording
    Jim Ursulak
  • music
    Guy Zerafa
  • narrator
    Jari Osborne
  • animation camera
    Jenny Lianos
  • participation
    Roy Mah
    Lee Chin
    John Ko Bong
    Douglas Jung

Education

Ages 13 to 17

Notes

Ask students why the Canadian government was so hostile toward Chinese Canadians. Can they think of any other examples in history or their everyday lives in which prejudices occurred? Have students compose a poem that begins with, "Tolerance is like a…" or "Prejudice is like a…" or "Racism is like a…".

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Unwanted Soldiers
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